The Omaha Daily Bee Do Your Bit NOW THE WEATHER & Fair; Warmer M the Red Cjp Cross VOL. XL VI. NO. 283. OMAHA. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 15, 1917 TWELVE PAGES. &VSlX SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. FOOD PRICE BOOSTERS ARE CALLED PIRATES AND ROBBERS IN CONGRESS ,,1'ttr xml ENTENTE DRIVES WAYTHROUGHGAS AND BLAZING OIL British Forces Menace Princi pal Link in Fetters Welded Welded On Northern France by Teutons. BULLETIN. Berlin, May 14. (Via London.) The battle near Bullecourt was continued yesterday with bitter ness, says the official statement is sued today by the German army headquarters staff, and in the stubborn struggle we retained the ruins of the village against sev eral enemy attacks. Assoclareu Press War Summary.) Through blazing oil, poison gas and every other horror known to modem war, the British are stubbornly fight ing their way to the Drocourt-Queant line, the gale to Douai and Cambrai, and the principal link in the fetters welded on northern France by the Germans. Qucant, south end of the line, is virtually pocketed. To the east, west and south the road is clear to the iiritish as far as natural barriers are concerned, except for part of the vil lage of Bullecourt, from which the Uritish have half driven their fes. The naval forces have also de stroyed a Zeppelin iu the North Sea. A ray of sunshine has also fallen on British arins at sea. The great German submarine base at Zebrugge i.nd the nival stronghold at Wil-helmshave.-. have been assaulted from sea and air, apparently with notable success. Italians Begin Offensive.. The only incident of moment in the other war theaters is an Austrian re port of a great artillery bombardment by the Italians. This may mean that the long inactivity of General Cadorna is ahout to be broken. The Italian . situation has been wrapped in considerable obscurity and there have been uncomfortable rumors that the chaos in Russia was inspiring the central powers to mass forces for a great drive against Italy. Russian War Minister Resigns.; The resignation of General Guch koff, Russian minister of war, and of General Karniloff, military comander ;it l'etrograd, because of his refusal to accept orders from the council of workmen's and soldiers' delegates heightens the impression of the grow ing power of the radicals and the de- iiKM-aliyntinn .if tl, ,r,,. Cue. q;.9;m A,,. Tin political situation in Russia is demanding increasing attention and i-jusing added concern among all the allied nations. L'udcr the continued harrassing course of the radical elements in Pet rograil. the provisional government which has held Russia together, at least in semblance, since the over throw of the old regime now shows signs of breaking up. The first gap in the government ranks was created yesterday when M. GutchkolT, the minister of war and marine, handed iu his resignation. Goaded by interference with the army and navy to an extent which he de clarer threatens "the defense, the lib erty and even the existence of Rus sia." he felt it impossible to share longer the responsibility "for the ;ravc sin being committed against the country." One -Rift in Cloud. Simultaneously there comes from l'etrograd news of a more encourag ing character in a denial of a report that the council of workniens and sol diers' delegates was favoring an ar mistice. On the contrary, it is de clared, it has never raised such a question and in fact is about to appeal to the men at the front not to frater nize with the enemy and pointing out to them the inadvisability of a sepa rate peace.. The Weather f'or Nebraska Fair, warmer. TempfraturfH at Omaha Ycmterdn.r. f Hour. Vcg. 6 p. hi,. 14 7 p. mCi.... 7a 8 p. m. 69 Comparative Boronl. v 191. ii e. iio. High"! yesterday,... To t!7 96 ii Lowunt yeutirday . . . . 4ti 44 71 42 Mean, temperature... u M si &n I'recipltaiioti 0 .Ui) .Oft .Otf Tcnipernluro mid precipitation departures from the normal at Omaha yesterday: Normal temperature 61 rieflelctipy for the day .... 2 Total deficiency stneo March 1..... 117 N'ormal precipitation 1C inch Deficiency for the day...,,.. .16inch Total Rainfall slnco March 1.. 6.33 int-hea Kxceaa alnce March 1 01 Inch Deficiency for cor. period, 1916. t. 62 Inches Deficiency for cor, period, 1918. J.43lnche Reports From StalfortN it 1 r. M. Station and State of Weather, f'liveiine, clear... Tomp. Hlsrh 7 p. m. mi. fia In full. iH-nver, clear.,. iz H .fl Oavenpnrt, clear ''i . " Des Moinen. t'lcar 70 74 .! Lander, clear ." Omaha, ckar 7.'- .' -MiorlUfin. clear &0 M ,H rtloux riiy. clear 72 ,n VHlnyne, clear 0. . 7 72 C "T" tnUluUra trace -if preclpltalten. L. A. WELSH, Motcorotoglbt. 2 o a. m is J -g&J IT B a, m 4tS W jj 7 a. m 4s jfcjyySa a. m 57 JlM I 1" a. m till rlr. 4 I 11 u. in tit; AcSWutfi 12 m liS R 1 v 111 ,ll David Lamtir Swears Helped Senator Norris In New Haven Case New York, May 14. David Lamar, on trial here with Captain Franz Rintelen of the German navy and members of labor's Na tional Peace council for an alleged anti-munition plot in 1915, testi fied today he had told the Rev. Thomas C. Hall, formerly of the Union Theological seminary, but now believed to be in Germany, that he had been able to give United States Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska information so that "he could put his ringer on the crux and inner ring of the New Haven railroad conspiracy." Senator Norris, who took the stand, testified he had no recol lection of ever meeting Lamar. CLERGYMAN HELD FOR HORRIBLE AX CRIMEINVILLISCA Rev. Lynn George J. Kelly Ac cused in Indictment as the Slayer of Moor Family and Stillinger Girls. Dcs Moines, la., May 14. Attorney General Havncr today announced the arrest of Rev. Lynn George J. Kel ly at Red Oak, la., charged with first degree murder in connection with the Villisca ax murders case of 1912. Rev. Mr. Kelly had charge of a parish near Villisca at the time of the crime, it is said. Since, the minister has been located at various points in Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska. Mr. Kelly's indictment was brought about following testimony that the minister had given the details of the Villisca crimes to people living in Macedonia, la., seventy-five mil:s away, within a half hour after the crime had been committed. Gives Himself Up, Mr. Kelly gave himself up today to Montgomery county officials. His I preliminary hearing will be held at Red Oak probably Tuesday, accord ing to news received "Bert. His wife is in jail with turn. Attorney General Havener made application for an order to take Kelly to Des Moines. Judge A. L. Sutton of Omaha, the clergyman's counsel, is opposing the grant of the order and is demanding an immediate trial by jury for Mr. Kelly in Red Oak. Story of Crime. Kelly is named as the slayer of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Moore, their four chil dren and the two Stillinger girls, on the night of June 9, 1912. The mur der, which was committed in the Moore home, was one of the most atrocious in the criminal history of the country. Lived in Nebraska. It is a matter of considerable in terest, that Kelly was in Villisca the night of the murder and left town the next morning on the early train west. However, he came back and preached in that vicinity during the remainder of that summer. Later he located at Sutton, Neb., where he was pastor of the Congregational church. It is reported that persons who came in contact with Kelly at Sut ton were important witnesses before the grand jury in Red Oak. A story in circulation is that Kelly, while in Sutton, called upon a doctor to whom he said: "Well, doctor, I had another one of my spells last night. The officers were after me again for the Villisca murders, but they didn't get me. I had all the windows and doors locked and they couldn't get in. You don't think I committed that crime do you? doctor, because the ax hit the ceiling and I couldn't hare reached the ceil ing with an ax. They said that there was blood on my shirt at the laundry, but that was not blood; it w-as hair tonic." Was Theological Student. Kelly was a theological student at,a!d ,,h government needs the the time of the Villisca murders. He had just completed his school year at the Presbyterian Theological semi nary at Omabe, and like many semi nary students, followed the practice of preaching during the summer at small charges in his denomination. He had made arrangements to preach during the summer of 112 at Mace donia, la., in the Council Bluffs pres bytery, and intended to move his fam ily there. About the time he completed ihis school year at the Qmaha seminary the committee of home missions of the Corning nreshytery had a meet ing to consider having Kelly go to the Pilot Grove and Arlington charges near Villisca. Rev. K. B. West, then of Malvern, Rev. A. E. Kiser of Creston and Rev. W. J. Ewiiig of this city were the ministers of that committee who met to take up such matters of business for the pres- (Contlourd on Ptge Three, Column Two.) 17 French Ships Sunk in 3 Months, Nine Make Escape Paris, May 14. Seventeen French merchantmen were sunk by German suhmarines during February. March and April, according to an official statement issued today. During the same period nine French vessels were attacked by underwater craft, but made their escape. N'o artned merchantmen have fallen prey to the L'-boats. COLLEGE BOYS COMPOSfftHAMPION GUN CREW Here is the champion gun crew of the Second Naval Coast Defense Reserve, composed of college boys, now training at the United States Naval Training Station, Newport, R. I. Arthur standing at the end, it in command of the crew. Next to him then H. B. Jones of St. Paul's, W. K. Boone of Princeton, T. M. Whitaker of Cornell. o 4 - 4 V champion guk crew; PAPERS PROTEST POSTAGE TAX AS BLOWJJ PRESS Spokesmen for Publishers De clare Provision Confisca tory and Meant to Em barrass Industry. ' - fv Washington, May 14. Spokesmen haslfor newspapers and periodicals, large and small, and from all parts of the country appeared before the senate finance committee today to 'attack as unreasonable and confiscatory the war revenue bill provision which would create a zone system with greatly- increased rates (or second class mail matter. . They declared if the measure went into effect many publications would be compelled to suspend. Don C. Seitz of the New York World, representing the American Newspaper Publishers' association, said the proposed increased was not a war tax, "but an effort to further repress and embarrass the newspaper industry." Can't Stand Increase. He told the committee there also had been a big slump in business which if continued would paralyze the newspapers. The publishers, he added, were not seeking special favors, but wanted to be placed on the same level with people engaged in other business. Arthur Dunn, speaking for the smaller newspapers of the country, said they could not stand the increase in postal rates with the increased cost of print paper, and that many would be compelled to go out of busi ness if the bill was enacted. J. A. Moore of New York, repre senting the Periodical Publishing as sociation composed eighty-six of the leading magazines, said the increase would mean an added expenditure of more than ?3,700,000 in postage to members of that organization and ruination for many of them. Speaks for Farm Papers. E. O. Meridith of Des Moines, la., speaking for forty-five of the lead ing farm publications, jomcd in the protest. He urged that newspapers arc a necessary asset of the country circulation of every printed page pos sime. All agreed that there is no. unwill ingness on the part of publishers to pay war taxes, but they do not want a tax that would be an unbearable burden. Nebraska, said he joined with the other members of the ways and means committee in support of the bill, except the section relating to postage increase. Opposes Further Bond Issues. "We arc raising money for this war instead of conducting a punitive ex pedition against newspapers and magazines," said Sloan, adding that unless the amendment proposed by Chairman Moon were adopted he would offer one greatly reducing the proposed second class rates, lie ' opposed putting any more of the bur den ot the war on bond issues, de claring the young men who will be conscripted should not have to come home" and lat in life be faced with paying the cost of the war. Dreams of Being Robbed And Finds Dream True O. E. Willis, 2712 Maple itrtet, a musican, went to sleep Saturday night with a vague apprehension that he would lose his roll during the night. He dreamed ahout the matter. Yesterday morning'nie found his trousers neatly folded on a fence in the bark yard. Thirty dullars had been rcr Allies Ask for 600,000 Bushels of Grain of U. S. Washington, May 14. During the food debate today Senator Gronna declared the allies had called on the United States to fur nish 600,000 bushels of grain this year. He did not state the source of his information on the senate floor, but privately to senators he established its authenticity. SENATE VOTES SPY BILL WITHOUT GAG OR DRY PROVISION Censorship Clause and Amend ment Banning Use of Grain for Making Liquor Elim inated From Measure. Washington. May 14. The adminis tration espionage bill, shorn of the press censorship and prohibition sec tions, was passed by the senate to day, 77 to 6. Senators Borah, France. Gronna, La Follette, Sherman and Vardaman voted against the bill. The measure was sent to conference immediately the hous$ having passed an espionage bill different in many particulars. The senate defeated the amendment forbidding use of cereals and grain in theiinanufacture of intoxicants dur ing the war, 47 to 37. The senate this afternoon dcteatd a motion to restore a modified censor ship provision in the espionage bill. The vote was 48 to 34. The section was stricken from the bill Saturday by a vote of 39 to 38. Chicago Bakers Talking Twenty-Cent Loaf Chicago, May 14. With the 15-cent loaf already on the market. Chicago today faced a possible further in crease in bread prices. Charles A. Paesch, president of the Illinois Mas ter Bakers' association, said that his organization had decided that even 20 cents is not too much. MENTIONED AS SUCCESSOR TO BETHMANN-HOLLWEO. .COUNT VON HOESTUMS. Count tjeorge K von Hoerthng. the Bavarian premier, whose presence ' in Berlin has revived rumors that he is to be the successor of Chancellor von Hethmanii-Hollweg. Baron von Hocrtling was created a hereditary count by the king of Bavaria ill 1914. He is the author of many works on, philosophy and economics and is a I member of the centrist party a I ' 1 I t . -turn j Cobb of Williams College, is F. Burchell of Princeton; Conroy of Brown and W. D. m. LUMBER FAMINE IN PROSPECT FOR STATEBUILDERS No Lumber in Sight, Although Largest Building Program in Years Has Been ; Mapped Out. . With perhaps the lsrgest building program ih years rhapped out for Ne braska, the state, along with other states, laces the prospect ot a lumber famine in six months. No less than 100 lumber salesmen, employed by the big lumber wholesale concerns iu Omaha, arc in off the road because they are afraid of getting or ders they would not know how to handle. The lumber mills have tightened up on the dispensation of their stocks be cause .the government has suggested that it may want a great deal of lum ber at any moment, and when Uncle Sam wants it, he wants it right away. Plenty of Time to Hoe. So lumber salesmen by the dozens are on the streets of Omaha, in their hack yard gardens, and around the fish ponds casting for bass, while their employers are paying them their regu lar salary. The wholesalers are anxious to hold the men, believing that the situation may grow better and that they may begin to get lumber soon to nil their orders. O. C. Walt, assistant salesmanager of the C. N. Dietz Lumber company, has just returned from California and the western coast lumber country, where he found it exceedingly difficult to buy any lumber at the mills, the western mills will not sell any lum ber," he said, "because the government has asked them to hold good supplies of stock in readiness for government orders. In Idaho, and throughout what is known as the 'Inland Empire,' where the white pine comes from, we are not able to get any stock, because the government is taking this for the manufacture of boxes in which to pack supplies. So you see how the situa tion stands. How much lumber the government will require no one can say at this time, but just take the single item of ship building. It takes about eighty carloads of lumber to build a ship. If the government goes into a big ship-building campaign one may easily sec where that would land us." One lumber wholesaler said since his salesmen had been off the road, gardening and fishing, orders which he could not possibly fill had been pouring in. He said one-retailer had just wired in for sixty carloads with out even mentioning the price. He was compelled to wire hack that he could not supply the slock. "The situation is changing so rap idly though," said one wholesaler, ''that no one can tell how it will come out. The railroads absolutely control ! the destiny of every carload of lum ber that is loaded. The car shortage situation is still serious when by any i chance we arc able to buy a load of lumber. As ytt, perhaps the shortage of lumber has not affected the build ing program much in the state, but if the difficulty in getting lumber from the mills were to continue for any length of time, building would largely come to a standstill iu six mouths." Wilson Steam Boiler Company Changes Hands The McCague Investment corn- pany announces that the Wilson Steam Boiler company has been sold to the Drake-Williams-Mount com pany of Omaha, making the latter one of the largest manufacturers of boil ers in the country, J. L. McCague, jr., who has been manager ot the W il son Steam Boiler comnanv. is to be- tome associated with the McCague Investment company Bullet Brings Down Government Army Balloon From Omaha Beatrice, Neb., May 14. (Spe cial Telegram.) A government army balloon en route from Fort Omaha to Junction City was fired upon near Liberty today by a farmer named Ernest Doty, one of the bullets piercing the big air bag. The balloon landed near Odell, south of Beatrice, and the men in charge secured Doty's name. He offers no explanation . for the shooting. The balloon was shipped back to Omaha today and was but lit tle damaged. CHICAGO BOARD PLACES FURTHER BAN ONTRADING Crowd Flocks from Wheat Pit to Corn and Oats Pits and Bids Up the Prices of 1 Those Cereals. Chicago. May 14. Drastic action to curb speculation in grain was taken here today by directors of the Board of Trade and by grain commission houses acting independently. The most important action was taken by the brokers themselves. Three of the biggest houses an nounced that until further notice they would accept no buying orders for wheat, corn, oats or provisions. Oth ers promised similar action. The Board of Trade following up its action of Saturday in eliminating speculation in May wheat by forbid ding it in May corn and oats. It also prohibited trading in July and Sep tember wheat until Wednesday, pend ing a conference of grain exchanges called to take place here tomorrow. Other Exchanges Act. Similar action was taken by the ex changes at Minneapolis, Kansas City, Toledo and Dnlulli. - Traders by the board's ruling were allowed to sell futures to adjust' exist ing trades at prices under a maximum of $1.61 J-i for May corn and 7i'A cents for May oats. The maximum on May wheat was fixed Saturday at $3.18. The result on prices of the various ruling was to send wheat prices down 23 to 24 cents during the forenoon, while corn advanced 7fS to 11 cents and oats 6 cents. Saturday's Closing Prices. Closing prices last Saturday were: Wheat Julv, $2.73(Sj2.75; Septem ber, $2.44(32.46. Corn-May, $1.61'4; July, $1.49$, I.49M; September, $1.41H1.42. Oats-May, 73k; July, 67 67'c; September, S8c. The period of two days for the ces sation of trading was given to give time for representatives of the boards of the country to come here for a conference to discuss concerted ac tion to curb the runaway tendency of grain prices. Telegrams were sent last night urging the boards to have representatives here by tomorrow. Only boards where futures are traded in were invited, as follows: Duluth, Minneapolis, Toledo, Kan sas City, St. Louis and Winnipeg. Extreme declines of 9 to 12 points in July and September wheat came as a result of the order of the board. Indemnities Also Cut Off. The directors also prohibited trad ing in indemnities, known also as "bids and offers," and years ago mjre Xpmmonly as "puts and calls." This order reads as follows: "All transactions in indemnit;es on May corn, May oats and all deliv eries of wheat expiring today, arc hereby declared null and void and the buyer sha'l refund to the seller the purchase pr'ce of the indemnities, and furthermore trading iu indemnities in wheat until further notice is discon tinued." Cor.: and Oats Advance. Much of the business suppressed in wheat wls transferred to the corn and oats p;ts, where sharp advances were scored July corn rose 7lj cents (ftaiitlnufd on Tnge Tno, t'ultimn Tlirre.) Tragic Death of Chicago Girl Due to Suicide Chicago, May 14. Three days' in vestigation has convinced the police that 13-year-old Grace llugeman killed herself either because of jeal ousy of her chum, Doris Anderson, or because of unrequited affection for a schoolboy friend. Doris Anderson, who has been held since the tragedy iu the belief that she might have been instrumenal in the death of her friend, insists that Grace killed herself accidentally, thinking the pistol not loaded. Allies Capture Fifty Thousand Of Kaiser's Men (From staff Crresponilrnt of the Associated Trrss.) With the French Armies in France, May 14. According to authoritative figures now avail able, the ,French and British ar mies between April 9 and May 13 captured 49,479 Germans, includ ing 975 officers. 440 heavy and field cannon,! 943 machine guns and 386 trench cannon. WRATH OFSENATE IS POURED UPON GRAIN GAMBLERS Men Who Make Profits Out of the Nation's Needs Should Be Hanged, Says Ken yon of Iowa. Washington, May 14. The unre strained wrath of the senate was poured down upon food gamblers and speculators today in fue of the most remarkable scenes ' in the history of the chamber. 'Tiratcs" and "robbers" were terms frequently applied to those who profit by speculations in food in the hour of the nation's need, 'The likelihood of food speculators being, hanged to lamp posts was hinted at. The storm broke when Senator Thomas, democrat of Colorado, pro posed an amendment to the adminis tration espionage bill, a provision to suspend for the duration of the war all boards of trade, stock exchanges or chambers of commerce which per mit speculation in futures in food. ' Drastic Action Needed. Senators who opposed it did so on the ground that the object should be accomplished in another waf, and some thought it would stifle com merce. The great majority of opin ion favored sonic drastic action to stop food gambling and speculation. Senator Lewis, democrat, said he thought legislation such as proposed by Senator Thomas would work in jury to many and should not be passed without deliberation. "I think," said Senator Reed, demc crat, of Mirsouri, "that means ought to be taken to stop speculation in foodstuffs within the limits of the powers of congress. But it is a won der to me today that we do not have S4 wheat and 40-cent cotton aneT$5 or $6 potatoes and beef 50 or 60 cents a pound. There never has been in the history of the world an agitation that parallels the present one. Situation la Exaggerated. "We are practically told that the United States is on the verge of starv vation an J that the world without is jtarving, and then wt are informed that when next winter comes the wolf of hunger will be howling at the door of every human being in the world. When that information is put forward, men are astonished that the prices paid for foodstuffs mount. If a plan had been conceived to make them mount, the one adopted could not have been improved upon by the in genuity of nun or the devil him self. "The thing; to teach the American people now is that America will not be starved, that it can't be starved i nd the consequence will be to lessen the conditions that confront us and pester us." Lamp Posts, Suggests Kenyon. Food speculators were denounced as "robbers" by Senator Kenyon of Iowa, who recommended, however, that the food speculation measures be held over to be considered with the food bill. "We should blot out this specula lion in food," said he, "but we should do it with adequate consideration. "If congress can't stop this rob beryand that is a mild term for it the people will find some way if they have to make use of the lamp posts." Senator Kirby of Arkansas, support ing the Thomas amendment, de nounced food speculators as "para sites." "We have wasted time in discussion when we ought to have acted," said the Arkansas senator. "The gambler in grain is a parasite. The time is ripe for some legislation of this kind." High School Boys Forsake Books and Go to Farms Seventy-four students have left Cen tral High school to engage in farm work. Full credits have been granted to all except ten. who, resigned before the custo mof giving school credits for war work had been established. Eight boys left the school yester day. Lawrence Borcherding goes to a farm near Blair, Irving Medlors to Ames, la.: Joseph McConney for Or couto. Neb.; Lyiiton AyrcS for Kear ney, and Masont'alniadgc for a ranch in the western part of the state. Her bert Dee, John Fikc and Kenneth Maker have not decided where they will work. Again Last Sunday Advertising in The Bee (Warfield Agency fessuremtnts) j FIRST IN GAINS f Sunday, May 13, 1917. In Inches Local Display 15854 Foreign Display 352 Automobile 706 1 Classified 704 Totair 3348 SAME SUNDAY LAST YEAR Local Display 867 Foreign Display 110H Automobile 942 Vt Classified 823 Total '. 2748 ' , GAIlx 600 INCHES Keep Your Eye t)n The Bet'