Newspaper Page Text

te«

"-w/irw^4

al

1

I?

».

*L--"

,- k-

1

(Ml

*v ^-i ''1

The Weather

FAIR

THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR, NO. 41

THE 1916

C. 0. P.PLATFORM

Adequate Military Preparedness

and Tariff Reform Will Be

Demanded.

UNINSTRUCTED DELEGA­

TION TO CHICAGO

Resolution to Recommed Root

for Presidency Defeated by

Committee.

New York, Feb. 16.—The republi­

can national campaign will be fought

on demands for adequate military

preparedness and tariff reform, oppo­

sition to granting early independence

to the Philippines and insistence for

a bigger stand for American rights

both in Mexico and in relation to the

'European war, according to the "key­

note"' platform adopted today by the

republican state convention.

The otulines of the platform, which

was approved unanimously, were pre­

sented last night in the speech of for­

mer Senator Elihu Root.

There was no difference in opinion

apparent among the 832 delegates to

the convention in regard to the plat­

form, but a bitter fight was precipi­

tated by the attempt of the support­

ers of Governor (Whitman to secure

an unqualified endorsement for his

administration, and to force his nom­

ination as chairman of the delega­

tion to the national convention in

Chicago, in which they were unsuc­

cessful.

Delegates Uninstructed.

The net result was that New York

state will send an unin3tructed dele­

gation .to. tjie national convention if

the action of the convention is upheld

by the voters at the primary election

in April.

A determined 'fight, lead by Henry

L. 'Stimson, to obtain a resolution

recommending Mr. Root as New

York's favorite soft, tor the presidency

was defeated in the committee on res­

olutions, on a counter resolution that

no presidential candidate be endors­

ed was parsed unanimously.

The'' principal ground upon which

the cfppbnetits of the Root resolution

fought was that an endorsement of

/Mr. iRoot wo.uld preclude the possi­

bility of faew York putting forward

Supreme Court Justice Charles F.

Hughes as the state'? candidate for

the presidency. A former statement

issued said Mr. 'Root, himself, was op­

posed to the use of bis name.

Commend Whitman.

The question of endorsement of the

Whitman administration ended in a

compromise, by which two resolutions

were presented to the convention, one

dealing exclusively with national af­

fairs, and the other "commending"

Governor Whitman for his conduct

of the state's administration.

TO FIGHT~TEDDY.

'Springfield, HI., Feb. 1G.—The Anti

Roosevelt Republican league, the

sworn purpose of which is to oppose

the nomination of Theodore Roose­

velt as candidate of the republican

party for president, by "lawful means

or, if necessary, by stooping to adopt

the methods and practices heretofore

used by Theodore .Roosevelt and his

followers," received incorporation pa­

pers here today from Secretary of

State Lewis G. Stevenson.

The incorporators are: David Da­

vis, former mayor of iLitchville, 111.,

and former chairman of the Mont­

gomery county central committee W.

'E. Newsomme, a member of the Mont­

gomery county central committee,

and A. V. Price, a negro politician.

mil utile

TALKS £0EFBBE

Frank Admission Made That the

Present Conditions Are Most

Unsatisfactory.

'London, Feb. 16.—Today's debate in

parliament on the air defense of Great

Britain was chiefly remarkable for

the frank admissions made by the cab­

inet's spokeman that the present con­

ditions are far from satisfactory.

Andrew Bonar Law, secretary for

the colonies A. J. Balfour, first lord

of the admiralty, .and H. J. Tennant,

under-secrtary for war, all spoke in

this phase. They declared, however,

that the government was doing all

that was humanly possible.

Mr. Balfour scored the sensation of

the day when he declared that one of

England's great mistakes in the days

prior to the war was her failure to de­

velop a dirigible airship fleet along

lines similar to that of Germany.

"With regard to Zeppelins," he said,

"looking back on events, I am sorry

that we did not develop that type of

vessel, not so much for aggression

land defense, as for maritime and oth

jer scooting. Certainly Germany has

had an advantage in possessing

•them."

&sk

^jy^yryfwp yy

1

1

Minot Joins Institution

Towns in Fighting Plan

to Remove Stat&^Capital

Valley City, Ellendale, and Mandan Are Cities Having Interests

Identical to Bismarck Which Resent Disturbing the Distribu­

tion and Location of State Institutions Placed There Already

by a Referendum Vote of the People.

Minot and that section of the state is out squarely against the

proposition to move the capital to New Rockford. This sentiment is

reflected in an editorial expression of the Optic-Reporter.

Valley City, /Ellendale and iMandan have already voiced their dis­

approval of the plan. The editorial appearing in the Opticilteporter

of recent issue represents the sentiment of a majority of voters in the

state.

Caution should be taken not to sign petitions. It should not be

possible for a minority of the voters of the state to force this' issue to a

vote.

DON'T SIGN PETITIONS.

AH state institutions were located by a referendum vote of the

people when the constitution was adopted. The Minot (Normal school

was established by a special referendum later. New iRockford has not

advanced one argument in support of its foolish dream. It merely wants

the capital, that is all.

It is time for towns having state institutions to abandon neutrality

in this matter. Everyone should be fighting side by side with Bis­

marck in this fight, as are the cities already mentioned Read this

excellent editorial from the Minot Optic-IReportcr, entitled, "Putting the

Capital On Wheels," and

DOtN'T SIGN PETITIONS:

The Optic-Reporter holds no brief for either the city of Bismarck

or New iRockford in the capital removal fight. Its policy is dictated by

what it believes in the best interests of the people of the state as a

whole and justice and a square deal to the great portion of the state

which lies west of the line running north and south through .New

Rockford. We have no criticism of the ambitions and enterprise of

the people of INew IRockford in seeking the capital. They arc the

livest bunch of enterprising people in the state, else they would not'

have undertaken the task tliey have. But we believe their ambitions

and enterprise in the capital removal matteer are ill-judged and futile.

The same energy expended in a commercial developmont campaign for

their city would have produced far greater results and much more

permanency. For, once the capital is put on wheels, it may be expected

to become a traveling show with every city of importance in the state

wanting it and the one which has it forced to put up costly fights

every few years to keep it. The Optic-Reporter would be glad to join

hand* in aa. eifort -to "permwrently^hjcate ttte state fair, which is now

on wheels and located on the eastern border of the state, at New Rock­

ford, and the beneficial results to the city from that enterprise located

where it would serve the people of the whole state better, would be

greater than those arising from the location of the state capital.

EMBROIL STATE.

The present campaign to remove the capital already has, and for

the next fifty years will, embroil the state in a bitter political turmoil

that will be carried to the other state institutions. For, if the capital

ibe removed, why not every other public institution? When the location

of the iNormal school at Minot was first discussed, it was suggested

that the Mayville INormal, which is crowded in between the University

and the Agricultural college, be removed. iBut the people who wanted

the 'Minot Normal were fair and had no desire to begin the loading of

state institutions on wheels, which would have produced a strife and

engendered a hatred ruinous to the state and its institutions. But if

the process is once starter, the precedent will be established and

sectional animosities will be developed and every appropriation for the

support of these institutions will come in contact with the removal

influences in the legislature. The disastrous effects of such things on

the institutions are too apparent to need discussion.

IS AN INJUSTICE.

The removal of the capital to New iRockford is an injustice to the

western part of the state. It is giving another institution to the eastern

end of the state, which now has far more than an equitable share.

To emphasize this injustice to the western two-thirds of the state,

which the campaign by New Rockford means, a few facts are sub­

mitted. If the state be divided by a line running north and south on

the western border of Eddy county, which is about ten miles west of

New Rockford, and as far east as a division can be made so as to include

the capital aspirant, there will be in the eastern division about six

hundred and fifty townships with an area of approximately 24,000

square miles. In the western division there are not far from thirteen

hundred townships, with an area of almost 47,000 square miles. Thus,

it will be seen that the eastern end of the state on this division—'which

is the only fair one—has about one-third of the total area of the state.

According to the population figures of lfllO, which are the last pub­

lished figures, and which cannot be charged with Bismarck doctoring

—there were in the counties in the eastern division of the state indi­

cated, in round numbers, 277,000 population, and in the western division

299,000, with the populations of the counties split by the division line,

artificially divided, but as nearly equitably so as it is possible to guess.

Furthermore, during the last five years, as is well known, the western

counties of the state have increased their population more than one

fourth on a conservative average, while the eastern counties have not

much more than held their own.

WHAT EAST HAS.

IBut the injustice of the capital removal which stands out most

prominently is the number of state institutions already located in the

eastern division indicated, compared with those located in the western

division, and for the support of which the money of the taxpayers

of the entire state is'expended largely locally. In the eastern division

are the following state institutions:

University, Grand Forks.

Agricultural College, Fargo.

Normal School, Mayville.

Normal School, Valley City.

School of Science, Wa^peton.

Industrial School, Cllendale.

'Insane Asylum, Jamestown.

Oeaf School, Devils 'Lake.

'Blind Asylum, Bathgate.

institute For Feeble-Minded, Grafton.

(Continued on

it

k£' c*

9#

1

A

.?,,

J,.,

'A ~K S

^•y

r. .^'vii.'

Possible That New Ruling May

Nullify Conditions in Lusi-

tania Agreement.

LONG EXPECTED ANSWER

TO GERMAN NOTE DELAYED

United States Still Stands Out

for Principles of Law and

Humanity,

Washingtong, Feb. It .—The sub­

marine controversy with Germany

cannot be closed until the United

States has fully considered the pos­

sible effects of the declared inten­

tions of the Germanic powers to sink

all unarmed merchant .ships of their

enemies without warning after Feb­

ruary 29.

This announcement was made by

Secretary Lansing today, instead of

the long expected announcement of a

satisfactory settlement of the Lusi

tania negotiations.

Perfected by months of patient, and

at times, perilous, negotiations, the

Lusitania agreement was presented

today by Count von Bernstorff, the

German ambassador, in a form which

would have been acceptable to the

United States had not the Germanic

powers announced their determination

to regard armed merchant ships of

their enemies as warships.

May Change Agreement.

The Lusitania agreement now will

not be accepted, as finally acceptable

to the United States, until President

Wilson and Secretary Lansing have

decided whether any of its terms

would be nullified by the principles of

the new submarine campaign.

It is practically certain that the

United States will ask to be specifi­

cally informed that the assurances

previously given for the safety of neu­

trals and non-comi)alr nts at sea, have

not been and will be altered by

thq, latest declarat^&v of tfie Berlin

and Vienna admiralties.

American officials fear that the

United States and Germany may find

themselves at the same point they

stood in the first days of the submar­

ine crisis, with the United States con­

tending unreservedly for the prin­

ciples of law and humanity in naval

warfare, and confronted with a long

series of diplomatic exchanges, the

result of which they cannot foresee.

Abide By Promise.

Count von Bernstorc told Secretary

Lansing today it was his personal

opinion that in the new submarine

campaign, his government intended

to abide by its promise not to sink un­

resisting "liners" without warning,

given in the Arabic case and referred

to in the Lusitania agreement.

Mr. Lansing informed the ambassa­

dor that such a declaration from his

government suggested the possibility

of postponing the effective date of the

new submarine campaign, if it would

give time for negotiations to clarify

the confused situation, but the Secre­

tary did not commit himself.

What form the next step in the ne­

gotiations will be is not disclosed, but

there are strong indications that the

German government will be asked to

assure the United States that mer

chantships armed for defensive pur­

poses only will be exempt from un­

warranted attacks.

(Situation the Same.

State department officials, pressed

for statements, replied that they con­

sidered the situation where it was

several weeks ago, when it was de­

scribed as "grave."

Diplomatic correspondence will con­

tinue with Austria, as well as with

Germany.

SELL ALLIES TWO

OF

SUMS DAILY

Using One Third of All American

Exports France Holds

Third Place.

Washington, Feb. 16.—American

made war munitions are now pouring

into 'Europe at a rate of nearly $2,000,

000 worth daily, with the figures

swelling rapidly as production in­

creases. For a long time after the

war began, shipments were negligible

and not until the middle of 191'5 did

the millions of dollars worth of war

materials contracted for begin to

move in considerable quantitiees.

Estimates made at the department

of commerce today put total for mu­

nitions shipments since Inhope be­

gan to purchase for the present war

close to a quarter of a billion dollars.

BREAK IN RIVER LEVEE.

'New Orleans, La., 'Feb. 16.—A third

break within, the last two days in the

lower Mississippi levees Was report­

ed tonight from Ostrica. La., about 70

miles ibelow New Orleans. Heav."

damage is feared in the truck and

orange farms in the path of the break.

ii'

•••!^'~»V:-- '-v

(HEWS OF THE WORLD) BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 17, 1916. (BY ASSOCIATED PRESS) FIVE CENTS

LOSS OF OVER 4 MILLION

®rih

int.

SWEEPJOUNTRY

Ten Killed by Collapse of Old

Opera House During: School

Art Exhibit.

BY FIRE IN BROOKLYN

Fire and Explosions Wreck Am­

erican Club in Toronto Big

Fall River Blaze.

Mexia, Tex., Feb. 115.-—Ten persons

w6re killed here early tonight in the

collapse of the old opera house build­

ing, which was followed by a gas ex­

plosion and lire that for a time threat­

ened the entire business section of

the town. Numerous other persons

were injured.

Search continued late into the night

for the other bodies which it was fear­

ed might be buried in the ruins, al­

though it was believed that all per­

sons in the building had been account­

ed for.

The death list included the superin­

tendent of city schools, his wile and

one of their children.

The old opera hall, seldom used,

had been opened for an art exhibition

for the public schools and spectators

had begun to assemble when, without

warning, the structure gave way,

burying them in a mass of debris and

heavy timbers.

The confusion caused by the acci­

dent was intensified by a terriiic gas

explosion which followed almost im­

mediately.

This caused fire in the wreckage.

The flames spread to other buildings,

but were under control after four

hours. The property loss is estimated

at $5,000. .i(jAiflij)

British Boats Burned.

New York, Feb. ]6.—No evidence of

fncendiari&m lias -been found it was

announced tonight, in connection with

the fire on the Brooklyn water front,

early today, which caused the de­

struction of three British steamships,

37 lighters and barges, a new 900-foot

pier, 'belonging to the New York Dock

company, and $1,000,000 worth of

merchandise consigned to the En­

tente allies.

The total loss is estimated at be­

tween $3,000,000 and $4,000/000.

(Although nearly 300 persons were

imperiled by the flames, which raged

Sercely for several hours, only one

man, a member of the crew of one

of the steamers, was unaccounted for

tonight. Several persons were injur­

ed, however, and there were many

sensational rescues.

A rigid investigation, conducted by

officials of the fire department, has

convinced them that defective elec­

tric wiring was responsible for the

flames.

Twenty Buildings Razed.

Fall River, Mass., Feb. 16.—The

origin of the fire early today which

razed 20 buildings, covering more

than an acre of the business district,

at a loss estimated as closely ap­

proaching $1,500,000, had not been de­

termined tonight. It was established

that an explosion marked the early

stages of the fire, but state officers

said the 'explosion was not that of a

boiler and they were not prepared to

advance any theory as to the cause.

Only a few families lost their shel­

ter by the 'fire, and no «ne was in­

jured.

American Club Wrecked.

Toronto, Ont., Feb. 16.—One man

was killed and two others injured in

a fire which early today wrecked the

six-story structure which was the

home of the American club. Several

explosions were heard, while the fire

was burning. Reports, unconfirmed,

were that the blaze was the result of

an alien military plot, the American

club having recently been the scene

of demonstrations in favor of the Al­

lies.

Fire Chief iW. J. 'Smith said tonight

that, wbile he has not yet made a

thorough examination of the burned

building, he was convinced that the

destruction was due to explosives.

.Recover 15 Bodies.

Butte, Mont., Feb. 16.—The fire in

the Pennsylvania mine of the Ana­

conda Copper 'Mining company, which

caused the death of .21 men Monday

night, was extinguished today. Fif­

teen bodies have been brought to the

surface. Six bodies, found today, will

be brought to the surface as soon as

the gas and fumes from the fires are

blown out of the mine.

IN SISAL INQUIRY

Washington, Feb. 16.—Attorney

General Gregory, after listening today

to an explanation of the plans of the

American Selling agency, handling

the sisal produced in Yucatan, Mexi­

co, reserved decision on the question

whether the agency is in violation of

the Sherman anti-trust act.

km*?

SAY BRITON'S WIFE

AIDS U. S. PLOTTER

"Dr." J. Grant Lyman.

"Dr." J. Grant Lyman, who is be-j

5ng sought by the federal authorities)

Ion a charge of swindling investors inj

mining stock out of $300,000 ori

($400,000 by illegal use of the mails!

funder the name of John H. PutnarriJ

jhas been engaged in German propa-j

Iganda, according to a statement

[made by postofficc inspectors. It is

(charged he has been supplying Ber

lin with information obtained from

(the wife of an English army officer,

paid to be a member of the British!

general staff serving in France.

EULOGY IS GIN

BY HEY. CRM AT

BREWSTp RITES

BeauttfiiL. Xn^ute Is Pai^ to the

liaki North Dakota'

Official.

IMPRESSIVE MASONIC

CEREMONY IS USED

Hundreds paid a final tribute yes­

terday afternoon to O. Brewster,

resident member of the state board of

control, who died Monday morning.

The chapel of the lodge was crowded

and many stood through the impres­

sive Masonic ceremony.

An eloquent eulogy of the life and

character of the deceased was given

by Rev. R. H. Craig of Dickinson. The

ceremony was under the direction of

Ti, K. Thompson, assisted by Theo.

Koffel and" A. Eppinger. The guard

of honor was composed of the follow­

ing Knights Templar: Henry Reade,

Carl Jorgenson, (Jus Jacobson and W.

A. McDonald.

Floral Tributes.

A large number of floral tributes

were sent from various lodges, indi­

viduals and the board of control. El

Zagal temple of Fargo sent a beauti­

ful floral tribute.

Following a brief service at the

Brewster home, the body was taken to

the Masonic temple, where it lay in

state for an hour. Many came to pay

their respect.

The local lodge was well represent­

ed at the funeral. Members of the

Knights Templar were there in uni­

form and escorted the funeral cortege

as far as Seventh street on its way to

St. Mary's cemetery.

One of the beautiful features of the

services was the singing of the male

quartet.

At St. Mary's cemetery the funeral

was also under the direction of the

local lodge.

Rev. Craig's Address.

The address of Rev. R. H. Craig at

the Masonic temple follows:

"Worshipful Master and Brethren,

we are assembled here this afternoon

to mingle our tears with those of the

bereaved. 1 want to spend a few mo­

ments this afternoon in talking about

a subject of which we are necessarily

somewhat ignorant, of which our

knowledge must necessarily be some­

what limited, and that is the life be­

yond.

"I do not know that we have any

right to talk about the present life

and the future life. We should rather

think of one unending life. We gather

around a new made grave and we drop

our tears of sadness and say 'a man

is dead, while Angels shout and cry

a man is born.' Death is not the end.

Properly speaking, death is only the

beginning of the endless years that

we have to live, and that we may live

at God's right hand. I say our knowl­

edge of the future must necessarily 'be

limited. People are living all about

us. A boy of five or six years of age

does not know much about the world

of a man of twenty years. And a

man of twenty does not know much

about the activity of the world of a

man of forty, and I think it is best,

probably, that we are limited in our

knowledge of the future. If we

(Continued on Page Four)

A

4,

n«SM*

A

'J*

f*V

if suit

4L'Vj

Last Edition

rj*iVJ* f)t%j

RUSSIANS IIIKE

TURKEY'S CHIEF

ARMENIAN CITY

if

Erzerum Falls Before Attack of

Muscovites Of Great Strat*

egic Value.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN WEST

STOPPED BY SNOWSTORM

Belgium Is Assured by Entente

Ministers It Will Have Part

in Peace Parleys,

Petrograd, Feb. 16.—Official an

nounnement is made that the 'Russians

have captured Erzerum. Grand Duke

Nicholas has telegraphed the emperor

as follows:

"God has granted the brave' troops

of the army of the Caucasus such

great help that Erzerum has been tak­

en, after ifive days' unprecedented as­

sault. I am inexpressably happy to

announce this victory to Your Imperi*

al Majesty."

lErzerum is Turkey's chief city in

Armenia.

Unofficial reports early in the pres*

ent month Baid the German field mar

shal, von der Goltz, with 80,000 men,

was besieged in the city with pro*

visions for only a fortnight.

Of Strategic Value.

The capture of 'Erzerum is consid­

ered of great strategic importance.

From it radiates roads leading in all

directions. Over those to the south*'

east and south, it will be possible for

the Russians now to fight their way

toward their compatriots, operating

against the Persians' and Turks in

northwest and west Persia, or pro­

ceed south toward Bagdad to the re*

lief of the British, bottled up at •Kut

El-Amara, on the Tigris, southeast oC

Bagdad.

Heavy Fighting Stops.

With the advent of stormy weath­

er on the western battle line, the

heavy fighting of the past few days

seemingly jias simmered down again

to, artqierjf...bflimjMiwimentfr.and atfii*

-ing operations.

On the Russian fronts, a driving

snow storm along the entire line has

almost stopped operations. The usual

bombardment, interspersed with in­

fantry attacks, continue on the

tro-italian line.

In Albania the Austrians and Bul­

garians are said to have formed a

juncture, and are battling for the cap­

ture of the important seaport of Du

razzo, which is being defended by

Albanians, Serbians and Montene­

grins.

Must Restore Belgium.

The minister of the Entente pow­

ers has informed the Belgium gov­

ernment that hostilities against the

Teutons and their allies will not be

stopped without 'Belgium having re­

established its political and econom­

ical independence. They added that

the Belgium government would also

be called upon to take part in the

peace negotiations.

More German Raiders.

Eleven German steamers laid up in

the Canary Islands ports, uave been

secretly armed for commerce raiding,

and are prepared to make a dash for

the open sea, according to a state­

ment made in Mobile, Ala., today by

Captain iF. E. Magune of the American

schooner, Edgar J. Murdock, who

says he delivered 2,100 tons of coal to

German agents in Teneriffe and saw

it loaded into the bunkers of the in­

terned German vessels. Murdock is

in port here.

Captain Magune refused to give the

name of the agents who chartered the

schooner to transport the cargo ot

coal from Norfolk. The coal was con­

signed to a Spaniard employed 'by a

German coal company in Santa Criffe.

It was transferred to lighters, and im­

mediately taken alongside the Ger­

man ships and loaded into bunkers.

The Murdock left Norfolk October

29 with 2,100 tons of coal on which

the freight was prepaid.

Air Attack On Camp.

Thirteen (French aeroplanes carried

out a raid on the town and camps of

Strumitsa, Bulgaria, yesterday, ac­

cording to a Reuter's dispatch from

Saloniki today. The machines drop­

ped 158 bombs, causing several fires,

it is added.

The dispatch states that the ma*

chines, although subjected to a severe

bombardment, returned to their base

untouched.

RAILROAD ATTORNEYS

FIGHT FORECLOSURE

Dallas, Texts, Feb. 16.—Alleging

that foreclosure proceedings do not

constitute a "controversy arising

from the laws of the United States,"

counsel for the Texas & Pacific Rail­

way company began here' today In

federal court the first attack on the

position of the Bankers Trust com­

pany of New York, seeking a receiver

for the railroad..i'^ ..

THE WEATHER.

North Dakota: «*lr weatkar

with moderate temperatars for

Thursday and Friday.

rS&£

sSii