Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 22, 1917, Page 1

_ NOT YESTERDAY'S NEWS, BUT TODAY'S NEWS TODAY--BY THE GREAT UNITED PRESS 'BEMIDJI DATLY PIONEEE VOLUME XV. NO. 297. 'MINNESOTA FUEL DIRECTOR ORDERS ~ RETURN OF EXCESS PROFIT TO BUYERS Coal Retailers Are Asked to Repay Al Received Above Prices Fixed Nov. 1. ~ ' PENALTY WILL BE INVOKED FOR REPETITION OR DELAY " Report Shows 11,000,000 Tons Re- ceived at Head of the Lakes During 1917. _Minneapolis, Dec. 22.—Scores of retail coal dealers throughout Min- nesota have been ordered by Judge J. F. McGee, federal coal administra- tor, to refund overcharges made since Nov. 1, when the federal order went into effect limiting the margins of profits to dealers. Dealers have been reporting their sales and the mar- gins have been figured out. Refunds ordered run in some cases up to near- ly. $2 a ton. % “Your gross margins must be as- certained by adding 30 per cent to your average gross margin on each grade and size of coal sold in 1915,” says the notice sent out to each dealer, “providing that such gross margin is not more than the gross margin received in July, 1917, on the ame size and grade of coal or coke, r most recent sale prior to July, 917. The gross margin in no case can be more than that received in Jiuly, 1917, on the same grade and size. Penalty for Delay Threatened. “The following overcharges have been made by you and must be re- funded at once, and all other over- charges you have made since Nov. 1, g 1917. Just as soon as you have made your refunds, please mail to this office a list showing name of buyer, kind-of coal, amount paid and amount refunded. “Any delay in this work, or over- charges in the future, will result in a_severe. penalty.” ~2.500.000 in Receipts. The northwest "féceived approxi- mately 2,500,000 tons of coal more this year than last despite the fact that a threatened shortage has re- sulted in federal regulation of dis- tribution, according to figures re- ceived by Secretary G. W. Murnane of the Twin City car service com- mittee. “Increased consumption is the an- swer,” said Mr. Murnane.- ‘Receipts by water and rail both have been -greater than last year but the carry- «over was smaller.” FOURTEEN RECRUITS JOIN HOME GUARD Fourteen new recruits have re- ported for Home Guard duty. On Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock a drill will be held-at which time a large number of volunteers are expected. Those wishing to receive merely the drill experience without actually joining the guards are welcome by Captain Swinson, as well as those drilling for entrance into the militia. It is understood that none of the recruits will be eligible for the reg- ular guard until their experience en- titles them to admission, and then must make the regular form appli- cation. This new idea is meeting with - popular favor and members of the . guard report many who are anxious to get this training. The work of drilling recruits will be rushed so that as many as desire can enter the company and take up the regular drill. NO TROOPS MOBILIZING FOR RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN, SAY JAPS (By United Press) Tokio, Dec. 22.—It is officially stated that Japan is not considering intervention in Russia. Troops for use in Siberia have neither been or- dered nor considered. B PRESIDENT ORDERS : HOOVER BE HEARD (By United Press) Washington, Dec. 22.—The sen- ate sugar committee again refused to hear Herbert Hoover today to an- swer serious charges against the su- gar administration. President Wil- son ordered Hoover be heard and he submitted a lengthy statement. Hoover claimed his action prevented sugar soaring to 20 cents per pound. 3 A q > 4 DEMOCRAT IS SEATED (By United Press) Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 22.—The state supreme court today seated George Hunt, democrat, as governor, in the contest with Thomas Campbell, re- publican. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA. SATURDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 22, 1917. The great arsenals of the United States ar i and the allies. The illustration shows a torpedo tube In process of manufacture. TELEPHONE _COMPANY’S FLAG PROULDLY BEARS 6,863 STARS A large military service flag, bear- ing in blue stars the figures “6863,” has recently been unfurled from the district headquarters office of the Northwestern Tel. Co. at Duluth. The figures “6863”” on the tele- phone company’s service flags repre- sent the number of employes from the Bell telephone system who are in military service. It is planned to change the numbers on these flags from time to time as more employes join the army or navy. Men from the Bell telephone sys- tem, representing every state in the Union, are in all branches of the military service. A large percentage of them, however, are volunteers in the telephone signal service of the army, where their training has fitted them to be especially valuable to the government. LW.W. PLOT FOUND: POISONED FOOD SENT T0 THE SOUTHWEST (By United Press) Chicago, Dec. 22.—Rock salt and bran, containing disease germs and poisons, have been shipped, from St. Louis to cattle dealers throughout the southwest by I. W. W. agents, federal officers charge. It is said evidence of this plot was obtained in a raid on organization headquarters a week ago. ALLEGED °LOT REPORTED TO OVERTHROW BOLSHEVIKI (By United Press) Petrograd, Dec. 22.—The Soviet announced today that a plot had been discovered against the Bolsheviki to destroy® discipline. The scheme is said \to be ‘to ply the soldiers with liquor. 0-GERMAN PLOTTERS ARE b FOE'(}‘ND GUILTY OF CHARGES (By United Press) Detroit, Mich., Dec. 22.—A jury in the district court today found Carl Kaltschmidt and three-accom- plices guilty of comspiracy in con- nection with pro-German plots. One defendant was acquitted. SAMMIES CHRISTMAS DINNER WILL BE SLIM (By United Press) With the American army in France,, Dec. 22.—Part of the Sam- mies .will have turkey and mince pies, although the special Christmas shipment has not arrived. The quar- termaster’s department announces that sufficient supplies from the French. have been secured to feed 100,000 men. Headquarters reversed its rulings and glfowed the Sammies to cable Christmas greetings. The regular| high commercial rate was charged the soldiers, the low rate being tem- porarily suspended. Editor’s note: Dispatches state that the vessel carrying the Christ- mas turkeys and supplies for the sol- diers’ Christmas dinner had turned back to an American port, fearing an attack by submarines. It has been reported that the Germans were waiting for the ship to capture and sink her. T0 CONSERVE TRAINS (By United Press) New York, Dec. 22.—Newspapers are publishing advertisements ask- ing the public not to travel during the holidays so as to allow the sol- diers to travel and troop movements. ‘November, 1914, are thereby made “I'Jiadge F. M. Catlin of Ramsey county l ; MAKING TORPEDO TUBE IN AWMERICAN: ARSENAL working night and day to supjy oly the needs of the navies of America Women’s Minimum Wage Law Upheld By Court Minneapolis, Dec. 22.— Minne- sota’s minimum wage law of 1913 is held valid in a decision of the state supreme court, and orders made by the minimum wage. commission in effective. The orders fixed a “living wage” for women in industries at $9 a week for experienced women and girls in mercantile establish- ments, and $8.75 a week in factor- ies, laundries and other industries. These figures applied to Minneap- olis St. Paul and Duluth, a schedule of 50 cents a week less being adopt- ed for cities of less population. These orders had been held up by an injunction issued by who held the law unconstitutional. The minimum wage commission went out of existence in January, 1915, and the law has peen a dead letter since then. The decision probably means appointment of a new com- mission by Governor J. A. A. Burn- quist, but there is no appropriation to pay its expenses, unless money B e o o e Petrograd's Streets Red | - With Blood (By United Press) Stockholm, Dec. 22.—A great bat- tle in the streets of Petrograd is re- ported today. Four army corps refused to obey orders of the Bolsheviki to leave the city. The Bolsheviki sent -other troops against them. Fighting was still progressing when this dispatch was filed. De- tails are unavailable. GERMA>"v WILL REFUSE TO REPEAT HER PEACE TERMS (By United Press) Amsterdam, Dec. 22.—It is report- ed here that Germany has semi-offi- cially denied reports that she will repeat her peace terms. ANOTHER ENLISTS Fred W. Krause of Bemidji left this noon for Duluth enroute to Jef- ferson barracks, having enlisted at the local recruiting office in the coast artillery. RUSSIA‘S HOPE LIES IN HFR COSSACKS (By United Press) Washington, Dec. 22.—Russia's only hope lies in the cossacks. Offi- cials formerly with the United States mission to Russia say they may save Russia. However, there is little prospect of military help from Rus- sia. She is lost as a military asset. It is uncertain whether recent events will develop sufficiently to prevent Russia being thrown dpen to Germany as a granary and store- house. RODMAN RETURNS Bert Rodman returned today from Minneapolis where he has passed a couple of days. His son, D. E. Rod- man, a student at the University of Minnesota, accompanied him to Be- midji and will spend Christmas vaca- tion with his parents Distriet| the law. is taken from the governor's contin- gent fund for the purpose. The old orders, however, are now in effect, according to W. F. Houk, state labor commissioner. Held Prover Legislation. The decision is by Judge Oscar Hallam. It holds that the law is a valid exercise of the police power of the state and rejects the ruling of the lower court, that it was an at- tempt to delegate legislative power to a commission. ‘““The legislature,” says the: syllabus, ‘‘cannot delegate legislative authority or discretion to exercise: under and in pursuance of It may delegate power to deteriii some™ fact” -or Jstate - of own operation depend. “This act was a complete statute when it left the legislature, and does not delegate legislative power to the minimum wage commission.” Judge Hallam’s opinion discusses whether the statute is within the proper field of legislation. NO TEUTON PEACE HINT REACHES ENGLAND (The United Press) London, Dec. 22.—The foreign of- fice has told the United Press that no such hint of Teutonic peace, as recently reported in Washington, hag been received here. It expressed the idea that the peace terms were Teu- tonic. German Press Busy. Zurich, Dec. 22.—They German Press in discussing Germany's peace demands with Russia invariably uses the phrase, “rectification of the fron- tier.”” Apparently the demand for Russian territory has caused a dead- lock at Brestlitosvk. Ukrainians Are Movir~ Petrograd, Dec. 22.—The Ukrain- ians have taken over Roumanian and southwest fronts and have united themselves. The Bolsheviki has or- dered their arrest. Note: This may mean a resump- tion of fighting there. CRISTMAS TREES AT CAMPDODGEBARRACKY (By United Press) Camp Dodge, Iowa, Dec. 22.— Christmas trees will be held in every barracks as thousands of soldiers will be unable to spend Christmas at home. FOUCAULT ON DUTY Fred Lee, who has been substi- tuting for Recruiting Officer C. K. Foucault, returned to Duluth this noon, Mr. Foucault having recovered sufficiently from a bad cold to be “on the job” again. SEIDEL SOCIALIST TALK PREVENTED BY PATRIOTS Theresa, Wis.,, Dec. 22.—Former Mayor Emil Seidel of Milwaukee came here to speak before a Social- ist gathering. Hundreds of persons from nearby towns crowded the streets and re- fused to permit the meeting. The crowd sought Seidel, to force him to kiss the flag, but he was spirited away by his friends. A patriotic meeting was called and addressed by Judge Martin Lucck of Juneau and other patriots. things upon which the law makes its LIEUT. BA HOME ON XMAS - LEAVE;ARRIVALIS Packers'Trust Has Public ByT Throat (By United Press) ‘Washington, Dec. 22.——To smash the hold of the nation-wide trust leech on the American people, is the object of the federal trade commis- sion’s food problem, it was learned today. It is charged that trusts’ sway cxtends from the cattle ranch dis- tricts, through the packing houses to the consumer. Canned goods, butter, eggs other foods are controlled in same way. and the M'ADO0_SAYS LOAN 9 RUMORS ARE “HURTFUL” Washington, Dec. 22.-—Denying reports that the next Liberty Loan, March 15, would be for $8,000,000,- per cent, Secretary of the Treasury W. G. McAdoo declared such rumors ‘“‘mischievous and hurt- ful.” “I wish T could make the' patriotic newspapermen of America realize,” he said, “how mischievous and injurious such speculative state- ments are. When a decision has been reached about the loan it will be officially announced. Meanwhile 'all other statements and ramors may be disregarded.” FOOLING GOVERNMENT SAVS ALBERT BORIE OF BRONNING GUN (By United Press) Washington, Dec. 22.—Gun manu- facturers sponsoring the Browning machine gun are ‘‘fooling the gov- ernment,” according to Albert Borie of the Savage Arms Company. He made this assertion today to the Sen- ate committee which is probing the affairs of the military. The Savage company makes the Lewis machine gun which the allies have adopted. “America Must Beg.” Washington, Dec. 22.—Responsi- bility for shortage in ordnance and rifles was ‘laid on General Crozier, chief of the ordnance department, to- day by Colonel Isaac Lewis, inventor of the Lewis machine gun, before the investigating committee. He sald it was a shame and out- rage that America must beg artil- lery from France, a country already near bankruptcy and bled white. MILLER DISPUTES SUPPLIES CLAIM Dee. 22.—Represen- Washington, Miller of Minne- tative Clarence B. sota, who has just returned from France, disputes the statement wof the war department that every sol- dier sent to France had heen ade- quately equipped, and that no men had been held back from France be- cause of lack of supplies. He asserted that American sol- diers in France lack guns, clothing and nearly everything else required in the field. He placed responsibility on the shoulders of Major General Crozier, chief of ordnance, and Major Gen- eral Henry G. Sharpe, quartermaster general. As the remedy, Mr. Miller demand- ed the removal of both generals from their bureaus and from the newly created war council. “The American troops in France virtually are without three-inch guns,” he said. “By this I mean to say they are without American guns. We have been able to buy a few guns from France, but the supply is not sufficient. “There are many batteries now in France which have not yet had a gun to train with. “If it is stated our troops have an abundance of supplies, ask whether our officials, in despair of receiving suitable and sufficient clothing for our men over there, ordered uniforms a short time ago from already nver~t taxed English firms" “WARMLY G Attired in full uniform as first lieutenant in the United §tates navy, Earl A. Barker, executive officer of the United States battleship Massa- chusetts, arrived in Bemidji at 4 o'clock this morning and was in the hands of his fellow townsmen and friends. He is home to spend Christ- mas with his family and will leave to rejoin his ship next Thursday. The coming of Lieutenant Bar- ker is the first since he led the Fifth division of the Minnesota mnaval militia to the Atlantic coast at the call for the first line of defense when the United States broke with Ger- many in the world war, and he was like a little boy with a new sled “brought by Santa Claus.” Through- out the day he has held an im- promptu reception wherever he might happen to be. Hundreds of people have called upon him with hearty greeting and tomorrow after- noon he will receive his friends at the Elk temple at 3 o’'clock and the general public is cordially inyited to greet him, this arrangement havi been made by the committee upp‘q“?g ed to make arrangements for 8 fe- ception. The band will escort him from his re:idence to the hall. The missing of a train in Chicago delayed the arrival of Lieutenapt Barker and the reception and dem- onstraticn planned was, in, conse- quence, disrupted. ] Greeted at Denot. The arrival of Lieutenant Barker was not, however, allowed tp‘ pags unnoticed. In we gray of *darly hour when the late traig med ip- to the city and stopped, the Home Guard, under Captain Thomas Swin- son, was at the depot to greet him, 2s were several busines men.. an promineny citizens. He was routed out from the car by E. H. Denu, chairman of the special recruiting committee, and Mr. Barker was swarmed by the gathering. In an auto he and his family were taken to their home. Escorted by the Home Guard as far as the corner of Beltrami avenue and Fourth street, where the guard lined up and pre- sented arms. Lieutenant Barker alighted from the car and returned the honor, proceeding home while the guard marched to its quarters and broke ranks. 3 Compli The courlegl}lrmcgghfi';.m& a big hit with the lieutenant and he smiled like a child with a big red apple. It was his good friends who had turned out at the unusual hour and the surprise was complete. “Never was more surprised in my life,”” commented Lieutenant Barker today. “I didn’t know the guard had so many business men as mem- bers. 1 watched them closely and the Bemidji guard needn't take:a back ec..l for any of 'em and I've seen a lot of military companies, too."” “We don't intend to,” ejaculated Harry Reynolds, who was in uniform in the group. “I want to tell you,” continued Jr. Barker, “that Bemidji and Bel- trami county have the best showing for their population of any of ‘em. I've told those fellows out east about it and they act as if they didn’t be- lieve it. They just couldn't. Be- lieve me, I'm proud of Bemidji and the county. It does me good to get back and see the fellows and Be- midji certainly has been good to me since I have been gone. And I can’t say how much I appreciate it,” Samuelsor is Killed Lieutenant Barker brought with him some sad news, however, and it is that Ben Samuelson had been Kkill- ed on board the battleship Kansas, the accident occuring two days ago. He was not informed as to the de- tails, and this morning F. G. Hal- gren, manager of the Gamble-Rob- inson company, received a wire in- forming him of the death of Sam- uelson, who was a former employe of the company and until a year ago was in the Bemidji branch. He is widely known in Bemidji and pop- ular with all who knew him. - At the time of his enlistment he was travel- ing auditor for the Gamble-Robinsgn company and was in Ontario, Can- ada, when he recelved the call to re- port for serviee with the Fifth Min- nesota division naval militia, and he came to Bemidji and left with the division for the seaboard, being as- signed to the Kansas. His home was in Minneapolis and his parents have been notified. The body will be sent to Minneapolis for interment. The services will be according to naval ceremony with the Dunwoody naval hoys doing the honors. Second Member Killed. His is the second deatl in the di- vision which went from Bemidji, An- drew Halseth meeting death by a fall from his hammock. His skull was a B N RS (PR (Continued on Page Four) REETED