Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 23, 1917, Page 1

Up-to-the-Minute Dis VOLUME XV, NO. 50. R = BEMIDJI. MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY 23, 1917. patches by the United Press---Greatest Afternoon Paper Service “THE BEMIDJI1 DAILY P ACUTE SUFFERING FOR FOOD TR BUSINESS BLOCKS, FEDERAL BUILDING, NEW AUDITORIUM, REMODEL CITY HALL For the past several weeks Pioneer has been edeavoring to in- still into the people of Bemidji the spirit of taking over their own af- fairs preparatory to a step forward for the reason that Bemidji was standing “upon- the threshold of a period that was to mark an epoch in the annals of the city, and should be unhampered in the great work pro- jected, that Bemidji might come in- to her own. That the people were of the same idea and caught the spirit and acted accordingly is plainly evi- -dent. Faces Greatest Period. The year just beginning is to be the greatest in the history of the city of Bemidji and optimism is per- meating every nook and corner and the Pioneer is glad indeed to give to the people an insight as to what is in store for them and their “City of Enterprise.” No Big Bond Issue. For some time past there has been .considerable agitation on a new city hall for Bemidji. That the condi- tion of the city hall is wretched there *is no argument and in discussing the proposition there has been suggested a bond issue of several thousand dol- lars for a new municipal building but— There needn’t be any such thing and there isn’t going to be. Remodel City Hall. Mayor Vandersluis this morning hit the proposition squarely on the head when he came out and stated his position on the city hall matter and it is one of the most sensible so- lutions to the problem yet advanced. And it is going to be taken up and discussed by the new city adminis- tration. % Sadly Needs It. In a nutghell, it is merely the overhauling of the present city building at comparatively slight ex- pense and making it presentable and inhabitable and which will serve its purpose for several years to come, and .no one need feel ashamed of the structure. The building is sadly in need of repair. Its interior is any- thing but presentable; its depart- ments are not suitably arranged, the roof leaks and the outside of the structure is an eyesore. On the sec- ond floor is a spacious hall that couldn’t possibly present a more un- attractive appearance and used in 2 nondescript manner. Mayor’s Sugwestion. That the building be repaired an painted. The present hall upstairs be divided and all city offices be moved upstairs and the firemen’s dormitory be taken care of the same, Jocated over the fire department head- quarters so the firemen can drop down to their apparatus, like in other cities, and not be compelled to run all over the building to get to the trucks, etc. Municipal ‘Rest Room. The city council chamber would al- so be moved upstairs and on the ground floor would be located the MUNICIPAL REST ROOM, for use of the farmers and shoppers and all who might care to take advantage of it when they come to Bemidji to do their trading and on other business missions. The building of the new armory will give Bemidji a splendid conven- tion hall and the present city hall would not be needed in the least. Thus would Bemidji have a suitable city building at small expense and| additional no one be burdened with add n ensive city heavy taxation for an €xp! building. | $65.500 Postoffice. In the civil bill, reported last week in Washington, appeared the jtem of $65,500 for the new post- office for Bemidji. The site is al- ready waiting at the corner of Be_]- trami avenue and Sixth street. This work will be started at the earliest possible moment and will be indeed a handsome permanent structure for Bemidji. b New Citv Auditorium. The carrying of the $8,000 bond issue as Bemidji’s share for the new $23,000 armory, to embody an audi- torium, means that another hand- some permanent brick structure will rise on the lake shore and serve as 3 convention hall and community gath- the |ering place, such as has long been discussed in Bemidji. This will be built this summer. New Elks Temvle. The finishing work is being done on the handsome $40,000 Elks tem- ple, one of the most handsome struc- tures in the city and will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. Handsome Business Corner. Jack Dalton, whose frame building was burned at the corner of Beltrami avenue and Third street, is going to rebuild and upon the site of the de- stroyed building will rise a lmnd-l some two-story brick business corner, all faced with pressed brick clear around on the Beltrami avenue side. The cost will be about $25,000. Judge Gibbons will also erect a handsome two-story brick business building at (Continued on Page Four) DULUTH ROTARY CLUB QUINTET WELCHES; ~SERIES CALLED OFF The Duluth Rotary club’s basket- ball team failed to show up for the game with the ‘Big Bemidg last evening, the first of a series of three games, nor will they be here at all to keep their booking with the lo- cals. It was stated over long distance phone this morning that the mana- ger of the Duluth aggregation was absent from the city and that before he departed he left the management of the quintet in other hands and from the result they were placed in mighty poor ones. The game had been extensively ad- vertised and Manager Jacobson of the Big Bemidg team feels keenly the welching of the Duluth quintet which not only proved a disappointment by not keeping its schedule but entailed consi(lernhle needless expense for the locals. However, the Duluth Rotary club need not be considered of the same calibre as the aggregation which (mis)represents it. NATIONALBANKS SHOW EARNINGS LARGEST IN HISTORY OF BANKING (By United Press) Washington, Feb. 23.—National banks throughout the country, dur- ing the past calendar year, showed the largest gross earnings and net earnings of any year since the estab- lishment of national banking, Comp- troller of the Treasury Williams an- nounced today. “SOURDOUGH_DITCH” s ARGUMENTS CONTINUED Arguments on writs of certiorari resulting from efforts to build county ditch No. 7, better known as “sour- dough ditch,” have been continued until March 13. Behind endeavors to obtain the writs are two separate groups of landowners. The construction contract has been awarded to the Lawrence Construc- tion company of Grand Rapids at a price about 8 per cent under the en- gineer’s estimate. Objections to the ditch have been voiced and legal proceedings have been taken to prevent its being built many times in the last two years. SPAIN WILL PROTEST GERMANY'S ACTION (By United Press) Paris, Feb. 23.—It is reported to- day that Spain will protest to Ger- many the using of Spain’s territorial waters for submarine bases. It is claimed Spain has two proofs ihat Germany is doing this. BRIDGE GUARDED IN NEW YORK Photo by American Press Association. Naval miduaman on lovkout to prevent attempts at blowing up Manhat- tan bridae one of the five hiz hridges spanning the Enst river. 3 Penitentiary For Two Who Robbed Man of $2; Booze Sellers Are Fine [e) Robbing a man of $4 will cost Fred Sterling a term in the penitentiary of not less than five nor more than forty years ,indeterminate sentence, and Mac Wroate not less than two nor more than fifteen years, the for- mer being found guilty of robbery in the first degree and the latter pleading guilty to robbery in the sec- ond degree in district court mow in session. In the case of the latter it was brought out that his right name is James Hogan. . Overlooked $25. This pair shoved a gun in the face of Joe Miller about 2 o’clock on the morning of December 15 on a cross- ing of the Soo line in Bemidji and secured four one-dollar bills, over- looking $25 carried in a tobacco sack in a small pocket of Miller’s over- coat. The money and revolver were found in a room occupied by the holdup pair by Chief of Police Ripple, after the arrest was made at the hotel. Booze Sentence?. Fred Hall was found guilty of hav- ing sold booze to Adolf B. Jorsted and given a $50 fine and a 90 days sentence in the county jail. The sen- tence was suspended for a year upon learning that the ‘“wet works” at Nebish had been closed. Roy Wilson whe also sold Jorsted liquor was assessed a fine of $50 and given 40 days in the county jail and unless the fine is paid the jail sen- tence will be 60 days behind bars that are not mahogany. At 2 o’clock this afternoon _the work of securing a jury to try Fred Sterling for murder commenced. FIFTY SINN FEINERS ARRESTED, SAYSREPORT (By United Press) Longon, Feb. 23.—Dispatches to- day state that 50 Sinn Fein sympa- thizers have been arrested under the “defense of the realm” act. FEATURE OF SERVICE The Presbyterian church has been very fortunate in being able to se- cure two singers of note for the Sun- day morning service. Miss Beth Evans, a well known singer in our community will sing “Oh Lord Be Merciful,” composed by Homer Bart- lett, and Miss Josephine Byrmes, sis- ter of Mrs. Hallan L. Huffman, is a prominent Minne&polis soloist, and will sing “Ava Maria,” from Medita- tion de Thais. ~—— ] e e “PROFESSOR”RIPPLE,NOT POLICE CHIEF; TEACHER OF NEW DRUM CORPS We're going to call him ‘“Profes- sor” Ripple, ere long, i instead of Chief Ripple for he has been asked to instruct the new drum corps of the Carnival association and no doubt will do so. Didn’t know the chief was a drum- mer? Yes indeed. It is related that when he was old enough to sit at the table with the grownups of the house- hold and there was chicken on the menu he always wanted the ‘“drum stick.” That's how it comes to pass that he became familiar with drums and how to handle drum sticks. «Professor” Ripple! Can you im- agine it? MISSIONARY VICTIM OF SUBSEA ATTACK (By United Press) Washington, Feb. 23.—Robert Al- len Hadden, an American mission- ary, was killed when the French liner Athos was submarined near Malta by a German subsea boat, the state de- partment announced this afternoon. ATTENDS DENTISTS’ MEET Dr. D. L. Stanton, accompanied by his wife, left Thursday for the Twin Cities where the doctor will attend the meeting of the Minnesota Dent- ists’ association. They will also visit Mrs. Stanton’s sister, Mrs. George E. Pennock ,of St. Paul. BUICKS ARE HERE . Manager Ongstad of the Bemidji Auto company today received a car- load of Buicks of the latest model. The new arrivals are sixes and are attracting much attention. . JAPAN WILL ARM MERCHANT VESSELS (By United Frees) Tokio, Feb. 23.—Yippon Yusen Kaishi, Japan's largest steamship line, has decided to arm all mer- chantmen destined to American and European ports, it was given out to- day. g 45 CENTS PER MONTH ICAGO em-,\ew Big Boom Due Bemidji 1917D((R SUBSISTING 0N FER BAREST RATIONS TO LIVE;CITY HOSPITALS , ISREPORT ) —_ CROWDED NorthernMinn. Facing Famine In Coal Supply: (By United Press) Duluth, Feb. 23.—Northern Min- nesota is facing a coal famine and the situatlon is becoming serious, is the report today. Virginia's supply of coal will last only three weeks while Hibbing re- ports only 30 tons. Cord wood, which seems to be the only possible relief, is buried in the deep snow. WETS MAKE DESPERATE EFFORT TO PREVENT CAPITAL GOING DRY (By United Press) Washington, Feb. 23.—This after- noon in the house rules committee hearing the wets are making their last stand in an apparently futile stand to save the District of Colum- d bia from going into the dry column. MISTAKE IS MADE IN SINKING VESSEL (By United Press) Stockholm, Feb. 23.—The German minister today informed the Swed- ish government that the sinking of the Swedigh steamer Edda was a mis- take by a German submarine com- mander. Formal regret was express- ed and indemnity was promised. ARTILLERY BATTALION MEETS FUNSTON'S BODY (By United Press) San Francisco, Feb. 23.—A bat- talion of Coast artillery met the body of the late Major General Funston this forenoon upon its arrival from San Antonio and the body will lie in state until tomorrow when the fu- neral will be held. BRITISH CLERKS RAID HILL; CAUSE TEUTONS T0 GAPE ASTONISHED (By United Press) With the British armies in field, Feb. 23.—A hunting call on a tally ho bugle called clerks and stenogra- phers, members of a London bat- talion, to raid hill No. 60, taking {119 German prisoners and seven ma- |chine guns. Shafts and dugouts were also destroyed. The clerks carried out the raid in| the same methodical manner as they would in cleaning up a day's mail. The city chaps stood calmly tighten- ing their helmets as the German shrapnel broke, and when the bugle sounded the charge they formed a 500-yard circle, surrounded the Ger- mans and joined hands behind' the enemy’'s lines, while the Germans stood agape at the audacity. YOUNG SON DIES Charles Hamman, three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hamman of Orth, died at the Mayo hospital at Rochester and the body will be taken to the old home of Hammans in In- diana, the shipment arrangements being made by M. E. Ibertson, of Ibertson's undertaking parlors. (By United Press) Chicago, Feb., 23.—Food prices continue to soar and the condition among the poor classes of the city, heretofore regarded as serious, has become critical and there is acute suffering. Rabbits and fish have been confiscated by the game commis- sioner and distributed among the oor. Families are subsisting on oatmeal, sugar and milk. One mother and three children were discovered living on two bananas daily. Rice, oatmeal and beans constitute the principal diet of the poor. City hospitals are overcrowded with cases of malnutrition. To Check Staples. Washington, Feb. 2%1.2Flnsl at- tempt to force through the food em- bargo was made today by Senator Martinine of New Jersey offering a resolution to prohibit exportation of staple foods. Fears for West, Mandan, N. D., Feb. 23.—Fear is expressed that the embargo on heavy shipments east of Minneapolis may be extended to include butter and eggs. NOTED MEN'S BIRTH ANNIVERSARIES GETS YOUNGSTER PERPLEXED A friend of the Pioneer reports this one: A little four-year-old girl on Lake Boulevard said to her mother yester- day, ‘““Mother, whose birthday did you say this was? Charley Chaplin’s?” THREE KILLED WHEN TRAIN RAMS CABOOSE (By United Press) Dilworth, Minn., Feb. 23.—Three were killed this morning when a Northern Pacific work train rammed a merchandise train in the rear. The workmen who lost their lives were in caboose which was destroyed. BROUGHT TO HOSPITAL Mrs. John McHugh of Blackduck, who has been ill for some time, has been taken to St. Anthony’s hospital for treatment. TRAINMEN’S OFFICIAL SPEAKS TO MEMBERS A. F. Whitney of Oak Park, IlL, vice president of the B. of R. T., spoke to the brotherhood members of this city in their hall yesterday after- noon. His subject was “American- ism" and in nis discussion he thor- oughly analyzed unionism and the Adamson 8-hour law. Mr. Whitney explained to the Trainmen their economic power, showing how they could enforce their demands by tieing up all the railroads in the United States and paralyzing all industries by merely the trainmen suspending work at a given time. Mr. Whitney pointed out that the great fault with the bgotherhood was that they had been too conservative and the railroads never took them seriously—by know- ing they could patech up whatever trouble took place. Mr. Whitney added further that if the railroad workers ever got their industrial freedom it would be through their own efforts. His talk was long and interesting to the rail- road men and tersely to the point. Mr. Whitney left last night for Du- luth. WORK ON BAUDETTE PULP MILL APRIL I Baudette, Feb. 23.—Work on the construction of a pulp mill will be commenced here about April 1. It will be ready, according to expecta- tions, by autumn. There will be four large buildings and several small ones. e