Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, September 07, 1917, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    1
AHA D
B
VOL, XLVII. NO. 70.
THE WEATHER
Showers. "
OMAHA, FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 7, 1917. TWELVE PAGES.
Os Train, tt Ht,la.
Unit sunn, tte.. to.
SINGLE COPY TWO1 CENTS.
V
v.
BEG1 TO USE
1 1 " V
BY 10 S
SOLEMNITY MARKS GOING
AWAY OF FIRST CONTINGENT
TO NATIONAL ARMY CAMP
Five Per Cent of Drafted '; Men From Douglas vand
Other Counties . March Through Streets and
Entrain at NUnion Depot for Fort
Riley; Big Sendoff.
With a solemnity greater than that attending any previous
departure of soldiers, the first contingent from Omaha for the
new national army left yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
With the sixty-six men from Omaha and Douglas county
entrained, also went five men from Burt, Cedar, Dixon, Thurs
ton, Wayne and Sarpy counties. All met at the Union station
in Omaha and boarded 'a special Union Pacific train that will
bring them to Fort Riley early this' morning.
- ii. . : l
MEET AT COURT HOUSE. Y- . ,. :
RIGA'S FALL DUE
TO SPEECHES OF
U. SENATORS
Russell, in Address Before La
bor Alliance, Declares Cer
tain American Statesmen
Helped Prolong War. ,
(By Associated Press.)
Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 6.
Charles Edward Russell, member of
the American mission to Russia and
a delegate to the loyalty conference
of the' American Alliance for . Labor
and Democracy, in a formal statement
to the convention today declared the
interest of the Russian people in, the
war had been undermined by the ac
tivities of certain members of con
gress ; and pro-German and pacifist
organizations.
The statement followed the reading
of scores of telegrams from labor
leaders in all parts of the country de
nouncing pacifists and pledging sup
port to the movement undertaken by
the alliance to solidify labor in the
successful prosecution of the war.
"Riga was captured by United
States Senators La Follette, Grqnna
and Stone," Mr. -Russell asserted.
"When the kaiser gives out the dec
laration of victory he should give full
credit to these thre'e men. They and
the People's Peace council and men
like the mayor of Chicago are doing
more to prolong the war and to
slaughter American soldiers than all
the soldiers of the kaiser.
"Every disloyal resolution passed
by a combination of German agents
who call themselves a People's Peace
Council of America, every time the
mayor of Chicago turns that city over
to disloyal meetings, it is interpreted
to the Russian people 'as meaning
that the United States does not want
to fight. It weakens the faith of the
Russian people in the United States
and gives them the impression the
thing for Russia to do is to beat us
to a separate peace. These are the
reasons why I say that Riga was
captured by La Follette, Gronna and
Stone, the People's Peace council and
the mayor of Chicago. They should
be mentioned by the kaiser in his dec
laration." Artillerymen Hurt When
Lightning Strikes Camp
Toledo. O., Sept. 6. Ten artillery
men of Batteries B and E were in
jured when lightning 6truck Camp
Walbridge, in the outskirts ; of the
city, last night. '
The whole group of J ninety-one
men met at the Douglas county court
house and from there marched to the
Union station, while crowds of cheer-H
ing citizens lined the streets to see
this first offering of Omaha for the
new army.
The boys were escorted to the sta
tion by hundreds of loyal Omahans,
both soldiers and civilians. At the
head of the procession marched the
regimental band of the Sixth Nebras
ka, followed by Major Harries and
the Omaha battalion of the Sixth.
'Fine Looking Men.
Next came three civilians who have
had a large share in the assembling of
$e Omaha section of the National
army, including Clyde Sundblad, W.
G. Ure and Earnest Ruff, members of
the exemption boards.
After them came the men leaving
for Fort Riley, a fine clean-looking
set of men. Just a little embarrassed
at the applause, with smile and a hur
ried greeting for friends recognized
along the way, with a firm step that
gave them a military appearance in
spite of the variety of civilian cos
tumes they wore, they took their last
walk for many a day along the famil
iar streets of Omaha. Those who
watched them pass smiled in. pride,
then turned away with dim eyes. Al
though Qmaha is '. becoming accus
tomed to seeing her sons 'leave for
war, her heart aches over each group
and her prayers for their safe return
follow, them.
. v - Carry Big(-Flag,
Just after tht boys, came an inter
esting feature, a number of women
employes in the city hall and court
house, who carried a large American
, frag.
Behind them were the city commis
sioners, Commercial club members
and other officials, many Spanish war
veterans, not a few civil war ones,
and scores of others, friends and rela
tives of the new soldiers.
The parade moved rapidly down to
the station. Waiting there were sev
eral hundred women, mothers and
sweethearts of the boys. Somewhat
Ao their disappointment the orders
were issued to allow no one but the
men and some federal officials on the
platform.
All Say Farewells.
There was just time for a hasty
kiss and hug for each, with an extra
one for mother, and the big "gates
closed between the men and their dear
ones, symbol of the stern laws of
military necessity that will encom
pass them till the joyful time when
the war is-over and they are mus
tered out. .
They stopped at Lincoln and Beat
rice to pick up others of the Nebraska
men. At 6 o'clock, this morning they
arrived after a comfortable journey
ready for the long stretch of training.
The soldiers, smiling and happy,
dined at the Commercial club as the
guests of the club at noon.: Those
from the northern counties were met
(Continued on Page Two, Column Three.)
The Weather
For Nebraska Showers.
Temperatures at Omaha Yesterday.
Hour. Der-
5 a. m . .
6 a. m. .
1 a. m. .
8 a. r-,..
t a. m. .
10-a. m..
11 a. m...
13 m 73
.. 75
.. 77
.. 77
,.. 79
.. 78
.. It
.. 76
..73
1 p. m.... .
2 p. m
3 p. m
4 p. m.....
5 p. m
( p. m
'7 p. xn. . . . .
8 p. m.....
Comparative Local Record.
1817. 116. 1915. 1D14.
Highest yesterday .. 7 86;. 80 88
Lowest yesterday .. 67 74 8 61
Mean temperature .. 66 84 - 73 74
Precipitation 23 T .04 .09
Temperature and precipitation departures
from the normal: v
Normal temperature 61
Deficiency for the day S,;
Total aeiiciencr unce juarcn 1... i
Normal preciplta. ca 11 inch
Excess for the day 12 Inch
Total rainfall since March 1..,. 20.01 inches
Deficiency since March 1 2.43 inches
Deficiency for cor. period, 1916.. 8.83 inches
Deficiency for cor. period, 1915.. i? 3 inch
. Reports from Stations at 7 P. M.
Station and State Temp. High. Rain-
of Weather. 7 p. m. est. fall.
Cheyenne, cloudy 6 76 .04
Davenport, clear ...... 63 78 1.08
Denver, cloudy .76 88 . T
Dea Moines, cloudy., ,.68 74 i . .10
Dodge City, clear . ... Si, 94 .00
Lander, cloudy . . 66 ' 76 .02
North Platte, cloudy .. 72 . 84 .00
Omaha, clear 78 7 .23
Santa Fe, part cloudy. 76 - 82 .00
Sheridan, part cloudy.. 68 72 .93
Sioux CMy, cloudy . i... 74 76 .OP
Valentine, part cloudy.' 78 86 .00
X Indicates trace of precipitation.
- . t. A. WELSH, Meteorologist
5 nnn nnw m:
AT SOUTH SID
PACKING PLANTS
Nearly All From Armour, Cud
ahy and Morris Concerns
Leave Work; Discuss Griev
ances at Meeting.
Employes of the South Omaha
packing houses continued to leave
their jobs yesterday until at 4 o'clock
it was estimated that 5,000 had quit.
Nearly all of trie men had quit the
Armour plant, and nearly all from
Cudahy and Morris , plants.
A meeting was held at 3 o'clock at
Twentieth and Q streets, when the
men discussed their grievances. There
was no trouble during the day and
everything was quiet.
Spreads From Armour's.
From Armour's the strike spread
to all of the packing houses. Em
ployes at Cudahy's reported at the
gate this morning, but 500 of them
tailed to enter the gates to go to
work. The men at Morris walkej
out in small groups all forenoon; at
,noon the strikers said that 1,000 men
had struck at Morris'.
The beef luggers and beef loaders
are taking the lead in the strike.
Truckers and stevedores are also
leaders in the strike. They aid in
the shipping of the products,, and
when the shippers do not work there
is little use-jn working the other de
partments. A meeting of 800 strikers was held
at the Turner Bohemian hall, Twen
tieth and Q streets, Wednesday eve
ning, and the men agreed that they
would not accept the offered raise of
2l cents, but will demand a 5-cent
wage boost. They say that will then
give them the same pay which em
ployes of the Chicago plants are get
ting. . . .
'. . Enroll in N. F. L.
T.' P.' Reynolds, member of the
State Council of Defense and presi
dent of the Nebraska Federation of
Labor, spoke to the men at their
meeting Wednesday night. He asked
the men what they wanted and they
all agreed to hold out for the 5-cent
raise, He enrolled' the men in . the
Nebraska Federation of Labor and
advised them to stand together.
me mechanics waikea out at Ar
mour's at noon. Most of . the girls
are striking They have been- receiv
irif Invents an hour. T:he 2-cent
raise , announced Wednesday in
creases their pay t6 20 cents an hour;
but the girls say they want 22J4
cents. ' : . . ' .
On Job at Swift's.
E. L. Phipps,. superintendent of the
Swift plant, said at noon that his
olant was working under normal con
ditions. Strikers-admit that the men
at Swift's are working, but that they
say they have asked for an additional
raise of 2lj cents and are awaiting
further news.
Statement by Murphy.
The Cudahy Packing company is
sued the following statement Thurs
day noon:
"All of Cudahy's employes reported
at the gate for work this morning,
but about 500 of them principally the
loading gangs,' box factory, dry salt
i.
OMSMMWARIf:
IBJGB IIELtf CM
No Comp etition
I (foes io A
LAST JUROR FOR VILLISCA
AX MURDER TRIAL MAY BE
DRAWN BEFORE END OF WEEK
NEAL SCORES MAN WHO HOLDS
HiS WHEAT FOR HIGH PRICES;
SHORTAGE OF SEED ALARMING
Food Agent Declares Brand
ing Jrbn Should Be Use&oC
Person Now..' Holding'"'.
' - for Gain.
(Continued on Pane Two, Column Four.)
Germans Lose Thrice
Canadian Loss at Lens
Ottawa, Sept. 6. Advices received
here today confirm the previous re
port of General Sir Arthur Currie
that successful Canadian operations
around Lens were not accomplished
without heavy casualties, although
the percentage was not so large as-in
other battles.
No definite estimate has been sent
here, but the interpretation placed on
General Currie's statement that the
German casualties were equal to six
ty-nine battalions and that the Cana
dians were only a third ot that, is
roughly estimated at 69,000 Germans
and approximately 23,000 Canadians.
The individual who hangs onto his
wheat in anticipation of receiving
higher prices is a slacker of the mean
est type, declare Charles T. Neal,
national food administration agent for
the Nebraska zone. He is not only a
slacker, says Neal, but he is an alien
enemy seeking to aid Germany in its
war on the United States and the al
lies. The following is what Mr. Neal
has to say with reference to this in
dividual :f
"A sudden and extensive demand
for seed wheat developed yesterday.
This call indicated either that there
a change ot mma in aesire to
Registration Polling Places Are
Being Prepared by Mrs. Findley
Equipping the polling places for
women's registration day, September
12 is the work of Mrs. R. A. Findley.
Mrs. Findley was employed in Elec
tion Commissioner Moorhead's office
for three years and therefore knows
more about ' hat is necessary at poll
ing places than any other woman in
Omaha.
When Mr. Moorhead was asked by
Miss Edith Tobitt, chairman of the
county registration committee, what
woman could give the best service on
her committee, he answered immedi
ately: "Mrs. Findley first of all"
Mrs. Findley headed the Business
Women's council which assembled
hundreds of business girls for weekly
luncheons and prayer meetings dur
ing the "Billy" Sunday campaign.
Miss Tobitt has issued a call for
volunteers to take charge of the
Fourth ward on the South Side, the
stock yards district. Mrs. Charvat,
who was assigned to this ward, is
unable to continue with the work, so
a new head with volunteer assistants
is required.
Mrs. A. B. Detweiler of Millard will
secure the registrations of women
there. A chairman at McArdle will
be named today.
m
was
ar-
Council of ; Defense Calls on
People p State td;,Supply;
' ' r tsifii- ai.i-ir'
Farmers With Needful,
Cereal-for Fields.
plant wheat, that no adequate
rangements had been made for secur
ing seed, or that the idea that the gov
ernment price would perhaps lower
values had induced the parties to hold
off. In any event, with proper seed
ing time only a few days away, the se
curing of seed to give us maximum
acreage is a serious matter. One
county alone was estimated to need at
least 30,000 bushels.
Hold Seed Wheat.
"Coupled with these requests was i
lntormation that m many localities
proper seed wheat was being held for
exorbitant prices. The thought in
the minds of every loyaf, patriotic
citizen at the moment should be 'how
to win this war.' One of the ways to
help is to produce a bumper wheat
crop in 1918, thereby providing for
one of the principal foods for our sol
diers at the front, for our allies who
are dependent upon us for bread
stuffs, and also to provide for the
wage earners of the country flour and
bread at a reasonable price.
"A large crop of wheat would solve
this problem and at the same time
make a return to the producer -at
present prices that was never before
realized in the history of wheat lais
ing. Every bushel of seed put into the
ground this fall, if followed by a
normal season, means twenty to for
ty bushels added to our next season's
supply.
Appeal to Patriotism.
' "There seems to be no legal way
to reach the party Who is withholding
seed wheat at this time for an ab
normal profit. Since there is no legal
way to reach him and he seems to
be dulled to his sense of duty and
patriotism in this emergency, it is a
pity that he cannot have burned into
his forehead with a branding iron
the initials 'W. P. (War-profiteer)
and go through life with this mark.
Let him be classed with the others
who should also through the rest of
their lives carry the brand 'S' '(slack
er), 'P. P. (peace pacifist), 'P. G.'
(pro-German) and 'I. W. W.' '
"Another thought: This 'seed wheat
profiteer is standing in his own light,
as he will realize after the seeding
season is over, for he will then have
this high priced wheat on hand and
be confronted with government prices
when he markets it." .
(Prom a Staff Correspondent)
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 6. (Special.)
The Nebraska State Council of De
fense today gave out the following
statement:
"The seed wheat situation is ex
ceedingly acute. There Is practically
no wheat being shipped to Omaha
that is suitable for seed. '
"Most of the seed wheat Js now in
the hands of farmers who are in
clined to hold it for a higher price,
than the government has fixed for it.
The result is that the farmers who
are needing seed wheat in the coun
ties that did not raise a sufficient
amount for their use this past year,
are being embarrassed in getting the
supplies they need..
"For instance, the State Council of
Defense yesterday had a call from
York county for four carlots of seed
wheat.- It has been unable to place
these orders on account of the price
asked them by the men who are hold
ing it out in the state. We therefore
turned to the Omaha market for
these supplies and to the big grain
elevator companies, but have been un-
able to relieve the situation in that
way.
No Seed in Omaha:
"In conversation this morning with
C T. Neal, the government wheat
buyer in Omaha, Mr. Neal informed
the State Council of . Defense that
there was no wheat marketed during
the last two days in Omaha that is suit
able for seed purposes, and that he
had orders for fifteen carlots for seed
purposes that could not be filled. He
earnestly asks the State Council of
Defense to get the, necessary ma
chinery busy to see if it is not possi
ble to draw upon the stocks in the
hands of farmers in Nebraska to sup-
Twelve Men Passed for Cause and Exercise of Challenges
Starts Today; Cross-examinations Rigid; Brother
of Head of Slain Family One of First
Witnesses to Be Called by State.
;. By EDWARD BLACK.
(Rtaff Correspondent (or The Bee) ,
Red Oak, la., Sept 6. -Examination of jurors for the se
lection of twelve "good men and true," to hear the murder case
against Rev. Lyn G. J. Kelly will be resumed Friday, and indi
cations are the task will not be completed earlier than Sat
(Continued on Paice Two, Colnnui One.)
urday morning;
ITALIAN FORCES
ADVANCE TOWARD
CITY OFT III EST
Desperate Battle for Posses
sion of Vital Positions Con
tinues Despite Austrian
Reinf6rcements.
BULLETIN.
Rome, Sept. 6. Tht desperate
battle for possession of vital posi
tions in the district northeast of
Gorizia, on the Austro-Italian front,
is continuing, according to today's
war office statement. The Italians
yesterday took -more than 500 ad
ditional prisoners. .
(By Associated Press.)
The Italian campaign for Triest is
being vigorously pushed in the face
of vast concentrations of Austrian in-
fantry andartillery, and General Ca
dprna continues to report progress,
" It -eem that the unofficial reports
of the tapture of Monte San Gabriele
by the Italians were premature, judg
ing from the latest advices from-the
front, and the ultimate reduction of
this last remaining stronghold, of
the AustrianS'in the Gorizia hills is
accounted a certainty by the military
writers, in view of the steady. Italian
progress through ; the protecting
works.
Fresh Austrian Troops.
Udine, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. S.
The Austrian command has succeed
ed in concentrating such numbers of
fresh troops and artillery removed
from the Kusso-Roumanian and Bal
kan fronts that the, battle is raging
again more fiercely than ever, espe
cially east of Gorizia and northwest
of , the Hcrmdaa, in the Carso area.
One Killed, Fiye Injured
In Sioux City Car Smashup
Sioux City, la., Sept. 6.A motor
car carrying five young men and
coasting swiftly down, the ' Pierce
street hill snagged the .front end of
a delivery truck, which was turning
in at Tenth street yesterday, turned
around and smashed into the curb,
killintr one of the passengers in
stantly and injuring the others, one
of them perhaps fatally. .
The dead: " I
CLAUDE KINNEL, 17 years old.
The injured: Forest Olson, Delos
Kevill. Georee Southworth and
Genrire Merten.
All the victims are members of
Sioux City families.
Philippine Sugar Men
Protest Federal Control
Manila, Sept. 6 The Philippine sugar
interests have aooealed to the in
sular government to make represen
tations to Washington that the fix'
ing of national sugar prices will be
ruinous to them unless minimum
rates are established for Pacific
freights.
Soldier Boys Sing Their Way to
The Lincoln Fair for Omaha Day
"Going to the fair, boysV The
questioner was a prosperous-looking
man who drove up to the Union sta
tion in a big Packard car.
Four joung soldiers, ;he quartet of
the Fifth machine gun company,
standing by the stairs leading down to
the trains, admitted regretfully they
were not. - . 1
"We're just down to see a friend
off. Haven't enough cash to go."
"Shucks, that's too bad I" comment
ed the stranger,. "I know how' you
feelused to be a soldier myself, in
the Spanish-American war.
"Let's see what we can do about it,"
he continued. "Can you sing ' or
anything lik? that?"-' . -
"Guess we can 1" - exclaimed the
tuneful four in chorus. "We're the
quartet of the ? machine gun com
pany." .
"All right, tune up I" commanded the
veteran. Taking off his hat, -he put
some dollar bills in to start the col
lection. As the boys warbled "Break
the News to Mother" so sadly that the
audience wep copiously, the stranger
mounted a chair and began to spiel.
"These young patriots want to go
to the state fair ai Lincoln. Haven't
had a pay day for three weeks and
five daysl Let's help them along,
brothers 1" ...
Everyone who climbed the winding
stairs streetward was halted and all
had a few coin for the hat. Seven
teen passengers . just off trains
dropped in rebate checks, which the
soldiers exchanged for a quarter
apiece at the ticket office.
In a quarter of an hour the hat
contained $19.55, ei.ough to takethe
boys and the'. manager to Lincoln
and leave over several dollars apiece
for spending money.' '. "
The soldiers who went are Corporal
Stevens, manager;" Corporal Rupc. ,
tenor; Private Amos, baritone; Pri
vate Hurt, tenor, and Private Reeves,
bass. . , ' . i
The prilimnary examination' filled
the jury box as follows: Kel Edwards,
B. J. Alqulst, S. T. Woodling, S. V.
Hart, J. D. Isaac, Floyd M. Pratt,
Samuel. Edickson, Carl Nimrtjd, C. A.
Bacon, S. R. Piken J. A. Johnson and
J. W. Bacir. . , '
PEREMPTORY, CHALLENGES.
At 4 o'clock p. m, the state began
to exercise its first peremptry chal-
lenge, which required examination of
five jurors before Jess Rankin was ;
passed to take the place of J. A. John- '
son. The defense had examined two '
men on its first peremptry challenge -
when adjournment was taken at 5:30.
Attorney Sutton stated the defense
will exercise its limit of ten peremp
tory challenges because of the im-
portance of the case.
PLAN OPENING STATEMENTS.
Opening statements by prosecution (
and i defense will be made Monday
morning and will mark the beginning
of the serious work of the trial.
, "I feel that we will get a jury this
week and that will be about all," said
Attorney General Havner. ' r
i It is probable that J. J. Hess and
W. E. Mitchell,- both of -Council Bluffs;
will make the opening statements for
state ind defense,' respectively.'. -
The. first witnesses for-the state
will be Ed Selley, Hank Horton and
Ross Moore, who were first to learn
of the ax tragedy five years ago. The
details of the scene in the home of Joe
Moore will be related by "these wit
nesses. .. '' .; ;.
Selley was clerk in the hardware
and implement store of Joe Moore
and reported the absence of his em
ployer on the morning of Monday,
June 10, 1912, when the eight victims
were found. Selley notified Rosa
Moore, Villisca druggist and brother
of Joe Moore. They joined Horton,
who was city marshal, and the trio
walked to Joe Moore'a home.
An outstanding feature of the eq
amination of jurors is the number of
men who have fixed and abiding opin
ions of this case that they aver they
could not render a fair and impartial
vettfict - . . .
MANY NAMES ON LIST.
Thirty-six men have been examined
in all and sixty-five more names are
on the list of those who have been
summoned to appear.
NThe examination is rigid and thus
far has reflected the indubitable in
fluence which Detective Wilkerson
has exerted in this county through
his public meetings and "100 ques
tions." Wilkerson and Kelly beyond
doubt have a-atrong following.
During the afternoon the names of
Bill Mansfield, Bert McCaull and
Harry Whipple were mentioned by
examining lawyers when questioning
prospective jurors -
AT OMAHA MEETING.
The Omaha Wilkerson meeting was
referred to in the case of a juror who
said he attended that gathering at the
Boyd theater. Man after man related
atending Wilkerson meetings and told
of the solicitation of funds for the
Kelly defense.; ;.:-..' " ,,';.
' Judge Boies contributed one of his
epigrams when he remarked to Attor
ney Sutton: "Tht juror has enough
intelligence to answer the question in
his own way, or else he hasn't enough
intelligence to sit as juror." -
The tedium of the examination was
relieved when P. F. Barber of Villisca "
was . called for examination. Asked
his occupation, he replied that he was
a barber. He related that Albert
.Tones, son of former State Senator
F. P. Jones, had frequently patronized
his .xhop. He was excused. .
Couldn't Read or Write.
S. S. Roberts. 62 years of age, de
clared he could not read nor write.
He had no opinion of the cas and
added that his wife would not even
discuss the Villisca case with him. He
was excused under provisions of sec
tion 232 of the Iowa cods relating' to
competency of jurors. 5 : ., .
, During the examination of W. E.
McXfullen,' Attorney Faville handed a
copy of the .."one, hundred, questions"
to, the. .couri fot perusal and asked
that the document be admitted as ex
hibit A and official record made. The
defense obiected and . the objection
was overruled The court took occa
sion to question McMullen regarding
his attendance at the Wilkerson meet
ing and then excused him without fur -ther
comment. -, . '
- John Larson. 54 years old. resident
of the United States fourteen years, t
was excuse on his statement that he
could not understand the English lan-
(Contlnued on Fse Tr, Coluna Tire.)
1 4