Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, April 5, 1917, Page 1

Py ‘'VOLUME XV. NO. 85. E BEMIDJ1 DAILY Pl BEMIDJI. MINNESOTA. THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1017. fl“tor&fm [ RESOLOTION PASSEs SENAJ! “PRU GERMAN, PRO GOTH, PRO VANDAL AND | PATRIOTIC LEAGUE FORMED; OFFICERS ELECTED; UPHOLD NATION, OBJECT \A. G. Wedge Named President; Many Sign Memberships; State’s At- torney Prendmg Officer. T0UD MAKES PATRIOTIC TALK; SPEAKS PLAINLY; IS ENDORSED Calls Attention to Disloyalty; Sug- gestions Heartily Approved; Much Work to Be Done. Several patriotic citizens, men and mereial club rooms and organized the Patriotic League of Bemidji. A full set of officers were elected and com- mittees were appointed to carry on the work for which the league ~was formed. The officers are: President—A. G. Wedge. First vice president—C. W. Van- dersluis. Second vice president—Mrs. C. E. Battles. A Secretary—G. M. Torrance. = .0 / Treasurer—Miss Donna Lycan. The committees are: Executive—A. P. Ritchie, F. S. Lycan and T. J. Burke. i Legal committee—H. J. Loud, H chairman; (and all attorneys of Be- midji.) Relief—Mrs. C. E. Battles, Mrs. A. ‘Lord, Mrs. E. H. Smith, Mrs. W. E. Dean, Mrs. George W. Rhea and Mrs. ‘H. A. Bridgeman. Finance—W. L. Brooks, W. E. Dean, F. B. Lamson, A. Lord, A. M. Hayes and J. W. Smith. The membership fee in the league, which is purely local, is only 50 cents and already a large number have signed the membership cards. To Promote Patriotism. The object of the league is to pro- mote patriotism in Bemidji, to look ) after the interests of the naval mili- A tiamen who will leave wives and families when they answer the call to the colors, and take any action deemed necessary to suppress sedition . .. and treasonable utterances and acts \ within the city. \\ The membership includes represen- tative men and women in all walks of life to whom the American flag is sacred. The meeting was presided over by State’s Attorney G. M. Torrance with Mr. Wedge acting as secretary. A constitution was adopted after ‘reading section by section. Loud Sveaks Plainly. There were several brief patriotic expressions uttered, a most interest- ing address being that of H. J. Loud, acting judge of the.municipal court. Mr. Loud advocated many things for the benefit of Bemidji in the pres- ent crisis and called attention to cer- tain things often discussed but never ‘brought to a focus, and- they will be taken up with the propér authori- ties and discussed for proper action. &> They are: Prohibiting public meetings at which disloyalty is advocated or the government, its officers, its army or navy are held up to ridi- cule or obloquy, or aid, comfort or encouragement are given to the public enemy. Prohibiting the posting of bi}ls except by a licensed bill poster, who shall post no objectional bills. Punishing persons who prac- s tice or advocate violence, sabo- tage, intimidation or interfer- ence with law-abiding labor or employers of labor. Punishing persons who shall express disloyalty to the United States, or shall discourage or attempt to discourage the en- listment of recruits for service im the army of the United States. i - o v i - -women, met last evening i in-the Com-~|. NAVAL FLYING BOAT LIF TS A TON NIN W WEIGHT ©» Lo Photo by American Press Assoclation This massive flying boat has been The gasoline weighs 1. “STAND BY OUR FLAG” REPLIES ERICKSON TO | INFORMATION REQUEST| A. R. Erickson today received a letter from Congressman Harold: Knutson, representing the Sixth Min-| nesota district, in which this re- quest was made: | “Please wire me sentiment of peo-f ple in Beltrami county relative to| war. I want to get the people’s sen- timent so I can represent them intel-j ligently.” | Mr. Erickson complied with the request, his message reading: “Bemidji and Beltrami county en- dorse the President’s miessage. Stand by our flag.” TURKISH FORCES ARE | DRIVEN FROM PERSIA (By United Press) London, April 5.—English and Russian troops in the Mesopotamia have joined and cleared Persia of all Turkish forces, General Maurice r2- ported today. H. E. PALMER NAMED DEPUTY ASSESSOR H. E. Palmer was this after- uoon named by City Assessor Archie Ditty as his deputy. The selection of Mr. Palmer is a most excellent one. He was one of the candidates in the re- cent municipal race, but with- drew, leaving Mr. Ditty to con- test the office with Thomas Lloyd. GERMANS ADVANCE AGAINST RUSS FRONT (By United Press) London, April 5.—It is believed the German offensive against the Russian front is under way. The first impact of massed atiack forced | the Russians to give way. [ NEW STENOGRAPHER | Miss Esther Peterson of Prairie has accepted a position as Wi pounds, the oil 143 pound { Long built for the United States navy. BULLETINS Washington, April 5.—There will be no house vote before 1/ o’clock tonight, Chairman Flood| announced late this afternoon. Kitchin says he will vote against it. Hollweg Sells Land. ‘Waco, Tex., April 5.—Significance is seen in the sale today of a block of land owned by German Cancellor von Helldeg in this city. The chan- ‘cellor’'s other property here will be sold as rapidly as possible. U. S. Vessel Torpedoed. Washington, April 5.—The Amer- ican steamer Missourian with 32 Am- ericans aboard has been torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean sea, says a dispatch received today from the American consul at Genoa. The Thip was of 7,954 tons and 491 feet ong. Wholesale Spy Arrests. Washington, April 5.—Wholesale arrests of German spies in all parts of the country are to be made by the department of justice and secret ser- vice men simultaneously upon the declaration of war by congress, it was learned today. BELGIAN RELIEF SHIP SUNK, SAYS REPORT (By United Press) London, April 5.—The Belgian re- lief ship Trevoir has been sunk by a German submarine, says a dispatch today. Assured A New York, Aprllsgi!rhe Trevoir sailed from New York for Rotterdam with the assurance of safe conduct for the Belgian relief commission and was laden with food for the stricken families. (By United Press) New York, April 5.—The Beigian relief steamer Feinstin has been sunk in the North Sea near Rotterdam. It is believed the ship struck a mine. _ _ATTENDS MEETING W. B. Stewart, superintendent of the I'eltrami county schools, has gone to Minneapolis to attend the county superintendents’ meeting. It carries a useful load of 2,014 pounds. 1 the pilot and passenger 340 pounds EDISON IS WORKING IN SECRET; WOULD CLEAR SEAS OF SUBMARINES (By United Press) Washington, April 5.—Edison, to- gether with a group of inventors, is working secretly upon inventions in- tended to wipe submarines from the seas. PENFIELD WILL LEAVE AUSTRIA TOMORROW (By United Press) Washington, April 5.—American Ambassador Penfield to Austria leaves Vienna for Washington to- morrow. He refused today to ctute whether he would return or not. ANOTHER LARGE CROWD HEARS EVANGELIST The union evangelistic meetings at the Baptist church drew another large audience last night. The big chorus choir under the direction of Prof. Gilmore is a ‘‘thriller,” and how they did sing! Solos, duets and trios added to the work of the chorus, made last night’s meeting worth going miles to attend. That man Smith was right on the job with another ‘“red-hot” message for “them that do and for them that don’t do business for the Lord.” Mr. Smith’s subject tonight will be “The Lordship of Jesus” and he announces that it will be his most important sermon for professing Christians. The evangelist will sing his text. Tomorrow will be Bible day. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon Smith will speak on “How to Study the Bible for Growth.” Smith says he is going to talk for the oenefit of the honest doubter Fri- day night on the subject, “May W Know That the Bible is True.” REPORT BRITISH CRUISER SUNK TEUTON RAII)ER] (By United Press) Buenos Ayres, April 5.—Uncon-! (] anti-president, ANTI-AMERICAN" LA FOLLETTE IS CALLED r “WORTHY OF GERMAN HANCELLOR,” ROARS NATOR WILLIAMS; VOTE STANDS 82 T0 6 (By United Press) Washington, April 5.—Soon after convening at 10 o’clock this morn- !ing the house of congress went into a committee of the whole “on a state of union” to bring up the war reso- lution and debate it. The length of time of the debate caused the first wrangle.. Representative Hlmson, democrat- ic leader of the committee, spoke of “going to war in defense of the rights of humanity,” and that the charge of going to war “for the bene- fit of profit and interest of ammuni- tion manufacturers” was ‘“‘dispicable and un-American.” Chairman Flood stirred the house when he declared “‘war is being made upon the United States unjustly. Its ships are being sunk and citizens murdered. There is no choice. We are compelled by the German gov- ernment to enter the war.” Washington, April 5.—The reso- lution declaring that a state of war exists between tne United States and Germiany was passed in the senate last night by an overwhelming ma- jority of 82 to 6. It will be taken up for passage in the house today. Roll of Dish- -or. Senators who cast the voles were: Gronna of North Dakota. La Follette of Wisconsin. Norris of Nebraska. Lane of Oregon. Stone of Missouri. Vardaman of Mississippi. The resolution now goes the house, where debate begun this morning at 10 o’clock, to continue until action is taken. Senator McCumber’s substitute to declare the existence of a state of war upon the sinking of another Am- erican ship by Germany, was de- feated without a roll call. Williams’ Answer. Senator La Follette concluded his speech at 6:45 o’clock after speak- ing three hours. Senator John Sharp Williams rose to reply. Senator La Follette said the sen- timent of the poor against war would make itself heard. He also said that “We have not a leg to stand on to support this war declaration,” and that “Germany has been very pa- tient.” Senator Williams, reply, declared: The speech of the Wisconsin senator would better have be- come Bethmann-Hollweg than an American senator.” He said he expected the Wisconsin senator to defend the invasion of Belgium and called the speech pro- German, pro-Goth, pro-Vandal and anti-congress and negative to beginning his |anti-American. The Resolution. The resolution. drafted after con- [sulntmn with the state department d already accepted by the house committce, says the state of thrust upon the United States by l(}ermanv is formally declared, and directs the president to employ the ]enllrn military and naval forces and the resources of the government to! iof the law. GEMMELL IN CITY W. H. Gemmell, general manager |firmed reports received here have it |carry on the war and bring it to a stenographer with the Clark Pole & |of the M. & I railroad, is in the city [that a British cruiser has sunk the | Tie company. today on business. German commerce raider Sea Adder. | successful termination. war | TEXT OF RESOLUTION resolution The text of the follows: “Whereas the Imperial Ger- man government has commit- ted repeated acts of war against the government and the people of the United States of America; therefore ‘be 1t; “Resolved, by the Jenate and "~ house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Ger- man government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is formally de- clared; and that the president be and he is hereby authorized and directed to employ the en- tire naval and military forces of the United States :nd the re- sources of the government to carry on war against the Im- perial German government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of ,the resources of the country are nereby pledged by the con- gress ol the United States.” e e — s e e . e, after 11 o'clock at the close of a debate that had lasted continually since 10 o'clock in the morning. The climax was reached late in the af- ternoon when woenator John Sharp Williams denounced the speech by Senator La Follette as more worthy of Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg than of an American senator. Gravity Evident. The passage of the resolution was not marked by any outburst from the galleries and on the floor the sena- tors themselves were unusually grave and quiet. Many of them an- swered fo their names in voices that quivered with emotion: Dinlomats Present. The galleries were filled to over- flowing. In the diplomatic gallery was Secretary Lansing, Counsellor Polk of the state department, Minis- ter Calderon of Bolivia and Minister Ekengren of Sweden. Earlier in the evening Dr. Ritter, the Swiss minister in charge of Ger- man interests in this country, had been there. Secretary McAdoo was on the floor during the last few hours of the de- bate. Crowd is Awed. As the last name was called and the clerk announced the vote, 82 to 6, there was hardly a murmur of ap- plause. The great crowd was awed by the solemnity of the occasion and sobered by the speeches they had heard. After the vote the senate adjourn- (Continued on last page) e ELECTION EXPENSE T00 LARGE; FINED; QUITS (By United Press) Pittsburgh, Pa., April 5.—Con- zressman-elect Bleakley was fined in Federal court today on a charge that his election expenses were excessive He immediately wired his resignation to Speaker Clark fol- I Action in the senate came just|lowing his sentence to pay a fine. :