VOL.XLV. 2ffO. 13,798.
PORTLAOT), OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
MEET TO D EFEAT
Yamhill Will Invoke the
Referendum
ON BIG APPROPRIATION
Large Sums Saddled on State
Unfairly, It Is Said,
PETITION TO BE PREPARED
Enthusiastic Gathering of Citizens
Organizes at McMinnville and
Appoints Committee to Carry
Out the Plans Proposed.
LESSON FOR LEGISLATURE. "
The argument generally advanced by
thobe agitating the referendum on the
(1,000.000 appropriation bUI, is not that
the state would save any considerable
sum of money thereby, but that it -would
teach the Legislature a lesson and pre
vent the normal school appropriations
from being saddled upon the necccsary
appropriations for state institutions In
order to secure their passage. If the
referendum should be demanded It "will
bo because the normal schools -were not
provided .for in a separate bill.
MMIXNVILL. Or.. Feb. 27. (Special.)
Ever since the adjournment of. the
Legislature there has been talk In
Tamhlll County of circulating a peti
tion asking1 for the referendum on
House bill No. 370, which carries an
appropriation of over $1,000,000 for
state penal, reformatory and charitable
Institutions at Salem, the State Uni
versity, Agricultural College and the
Normal Schools.
Interest in the movement has con
tinued to grow and tonight culminat
ed in a citizens' meeting, at which an
organization was perfected for the ex
press purpose of urging the defeat of
the appropriation bill by the people.
The meeting was held in the Court-house,
and on motion M. B. Hendrlck
was chosen permanent chairman and
H. Im McCann, secretary.
An executive committee consisting
of representatives from each of the
political parties was appointed and in
structed to have petition forms print
ed and to urge voters Jn all legitimate
ways to work for the defeat of the bill.
This committee consists of:
M. B. Hendrlck. chairman; H. L. Mc
Cann, J. C. Cooper, William Vinton,
David Stout, W. C. Hagerty and B.
Asbury.
Discussion of. the Subject.
Following the appointment of the
committee, the meeting was opened for
discussion of the step -under consid
eration. W. C. Haggerty in response to
a, request from and in the behalf of
Dr. J. C. Calbreath, of the state insane
asylum, stated that If the appropria
tion bill should be killed, It would be
a hardship upon and a positive detri
ment to that institution.
G. O. Holman then defined the finan
cial situation of the state If the 're
quisite number of petitioners should
be secured. He also stated that, al
tnough such condition might and prob
ably would cause temporary inconve
nience, Jt would be an effectual way of
eliminating a system of biennial ap
propriations which, are considered by
many to be unjust.
7f W. W. Mickle, a farmer from the
BellevUe section, also made a pointed
speech In behalf of the petition. W. T.
Vinton stated that he considered the
matter of making appropriations un
just and would support a petition for
referendum on House bill 370, and
xould do all he could to further the
movement.
Petition to Be Drawn Up.
Before the meeting closed, It was
agreed that the executive committee
should meet at the call of the chalr
jnan. At the comtng meeting a peti
tion will be drawn up and an outline
of campaign made. There will be no
expense of circulating the petitions,'
for volunteers are plentiful. It is the
opinion of the committee that the re
quired number of petitioners can be
secured by simply reading the petition
in stores and public places.
As far as known the're Is no express
opposition to the movement and the
opinion of the Yamhill County taxpay
ers is summed up In the reply of ex
Dlstrict Attorney James McCain to a
telephone message from B. S. Mulkey,
asking who was back of the movement,
to which McCain replied:
"We are all In it."
NORMALS CHIEF SUFFERERS.
Popular Vote Could Cut Off All
Money for These Institutions.
SALEM, Or.. Feb. 27. (Special.)
Agitation in favor of demanding the
referendum upon the $1,000,000 appro
priation "bill, passed by the last Leg
islature has caused considerable dis
cussion in Salem in the last few days
and great Interest is being taken in
the progress of the movement. Salem
people are generally opposed to the
referendum, for if the appropriation
bill should be hold up no warrants
could be drawn for services or .supplies
at the state institutions and It would
probably be necessary for employes and
furnishers of supplies to discount their
certificates showing: the amount due
them. ,
The amount of the appropriation "bill
was about $1,049,000, of which sum
$300,000 was for the University. Agri
cultural College, Normal Schools, new
buildings, etc., not authorized by ex
isting laws. It the appropriation bill
should be held up by referendum
petitions, the asylum, penitentiary,
reform school, blind school, mute?
school. Soldiers' Home, University and
Agricultural College would continue
to operate as they have in the past,
except that certificates of audit would
be issued in payment of expenses In
stead of warrants. These certificates
would not draw interest, unless the
next Legislature appropriated money
for Interest, but the .amount of the
certificate would be paid.
The University and Agricultural Col
leges have standing- appropriations and
all that would ho cut off from these In
stitutions by the referendum on the
appropriation bill would be the addi
tional sums allowed for new buildings
and Increased maintenance. With the
appropriation bill held, up, the Normal
Schools would receive' neither certifi
cates of audit nor warrants, for they
exist by no authority of law.
Stated in a general way, the effect
of demanding the referendum upon the
appropriation bill would be to pre
vent the incurring of expenses of about
$300,030 in the next 'two years, while
necessary authorized expenses to the
amount of $750,000 would be evidenced
by certificates of audit. Should the
next Legislature allow 6 per cent in
terest on these certificates, the accu
mulated Interest would amount to
about $45,000.
Superintendent Calbreath, of the in
sane asylum, says that holding up the
appropriation bill would probably also
have the effect of raising the price of
supplies 5 to 10 per cent, for bidders
would take discount into consideration
In making prices.
APPLICANTS ARE POURING IN
Office of State Engineer Carries a
Very Gcod Salary.
SALEM. Or., Feb. 27. (Special.) Ap
plications for appointment to the office
of State Engineer are pouring into the
Governor's office, notwithstanding the
real appointing power is not vested in
the Governor and the law authorizing
the appointment will not be made for
SO days yet. The salary of $200 a month
and expenses is what makes the office
attractive to men qualified for the po
sition. The Governor is suggesting to
applicants that it might be well for
them to apply to the director of the
United States Geological Survey.
"A State Engineer, technically quali
fied and experienced as an hydraulic
engineer, shall be appointed by the
Governor upon the recommendation of
the director of the Unuca States Geo
logical Survey and confirmed by the
Senate," Is the provision of the irriga
tion law. "He shall hold office for four
years unless sooner removed by the
Governor for cause and until his suc
cessor shall have been appointed and
qualified."
The duties of the Slate Engineer are
to have general supervision of all the
measurements and records of appropria
tion of waters of the state and of all
surveys. and engineering work, in wWoh
the state may be interested, and for
which funds are proIded. and to per
form all work In connection therewith.
He must .not engage in private prac
tice. The salary is fixed at $2400 a year
and $5000 a year is appropriated for the
payment of this salary, the expenses
of the office and the compensation of as
sistants. There is also appropriated by
the law $3000 a year for hydrographic
work and $5000 a year for topographic
work,such appropriations, however, be
ing contingent upon the United States
Government expending a similar sum
in hydrographic and topographic work
in this state. This makes a total ap
propriation of $26,000 biennially for ir
rigation and geological work In this
state.
The chief purpose In "the creation of
the office was to aid the Government In
proposed reclamation work in Oregon,
but the Engineer will serve the state
in examining work done under the pro
visions of the Carey act and in the con
struction of the Portage- Road,' if any
services be necessary In that connec
tion. The appointment cannot be made
until May 18, and will then be made
upon the recommendation of Charles
D. Walcott, director of the United
States Geological Survey, Washington,
D. C.
PUSH ANTI-STAND AED EIGHT.
Kansas Will Sell Refinery Bonds
House passes Gas Bill.
TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 27. It was decided
today that the bonds for the state oil re
finery will be Issued within ten days. As
soon as they are sold, work on the refin
ery will begin at once.
Miss Ida M. Tarbell, the magazine wri
ter, will be here this week. She will
thoroughly Investigate the Kansas' oil
fields and the events leading up to the
fight on the Standard Oil Company, and
from the material thus gained write a
series of articles for an Eastern publica
tion. The House today passed the Holden
antl-pumplng-of-gas bllL It will now be
come a law. The bill prohibits the use of
pumps on gas wells, but permits com
pressors on pipe lines.
The antl-dlscrlmlnatlon bill will prob-""
ably be considered by the House tomor
row. ANTI-TRUST LAW SUSTAINED
Cotton Oil Trust Finally Driven Out
of Texas.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. The Supreme
Court of the United States has decided the
case of the National Cotton OH Company
vs. the State of Texas, Involving the
Texas anti-trust law. The state court
found the company guilty under that law
and held that it had forfeited its right to
do business? in the state. The case was
appealed to the Supreme Court on consti
tutional grounds. That court, however,
in its opinion today, which was delivered
by Justice McKenna, field that the claim
was untenable and sustained the verdict
of the court below.
Anti-Salt Trust Measure Killed.
TOPEKA, Feb. .27. A House, concurrent
resolution calling for an investigation of
the salt trust was defeated by a vote of
57 to IS. It was necessary for the resolu
tion to receive a two-thirds vote, or 63
votes.
Appointed by the President.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. The President
today sent the following nominations to
the Senate:
Consul-General at Panama Joseph W.
J. Lee, Maryland.
Postmasters George L.-J-. Morgan, at
Mackay. Idaho; Charles Hi Crete, at Sil
ver City, Idaho -
AIM ST MUKDEN
Japanese Striking De
cisive Blow.
HAVE CAPTURED TALIHC
That Pass Is Pronounced Gate
way to the City,
0YAHA ORDERED TO ADVANCE
Must Act Before Snow Melts Posi
tions He Has Taken Are Im
portant, Despite Denials
by the Russians.
SPECIAL CABLE.
. TOKIO, Feb. 28. Following the custom
of the Japanese government, the officials
at the War Office refuse to discuss the
present movements In Manchuria, but
there Is a general air of confidence among
the higher officer?, who are absolutely
posted on the situation, which Is believed
to Indicate that General Kurokl has again
scored a complete success and that offi
cial announcement may be expected very
soon.
Up to midnight Monday no particulars
of the fighting had been given out, but it
was stated that, so far as was known,
only the right and center of Marshal
Oyama's army had been engaged and that
the conditions on the left are unchanged.
Regarding the announcement from St,
Petersburg that only a comparatively
small force of Russians have been en
gaged and that tho capture of Tslnk
hetchen was of no consequence, an officer
of the general staff said last night:
Lost Position Was Important.
"That is not so. General Kuropatkln
certainly would not have spent two
months fortifying a temporary position,
if he had Intended to abandon It at the
first attack. It is hard to reconcile the
views of the Russian staff with the re
port of their commander at the front, who
stated that the Japanese were only able
to occupy the position after desperate
bayonet charges and after the Russian "po
sition hadbcen shelled for hour?. Thai,,
hardly sounds to me iJke the report a
man would make of the lo'ss of a position
of .minor importance.
"For obvious reasons L of course, can
not say why the position was necessary
to our troops, but if you wait a few
hours you may learn."
Mukden May Be Captured.
It Is the general opinion among the best
informed experts in the Japanese capital
that the present movement, before it
ends, will result in the capture of Muk
den. It Is known that orders have been
sent to Field Marshal Oyama, telling him
that the time is ripe for taking the Rus
sian main position, as, . if the action is
postponed much longer, the Spring thaws,
with their resultant floods, will be upon
him and it will be Impossible to do any
fighting until the roads dry up.
The weather at the front, which had
been somewhat mild for a fortnight, has
again changed, and the mercury is hov
ering near the zero mark, while heavy
squalls of snow are causing great suf
fering to the troops. Medical officers de
clare that the large percentage of killed
reported from unofficial sources Is due to
the fact that tho weather Is so bad, and
say that the sufferings of the wounded
must be terrible in the extreme.
Vladivostok to Be Cut Off.
There is, of course, a possibility that
the present movement may have for Its
object, as well as the capture of Mukden,
the isolation of Vladivostok. In view of
the recent reports that the port was be
ing blockarded by sea by a Japanese
squadron of torpedo-boats and protected
cruisers, there can be little doubt that, If
Kurokl crushes the Russian left, such
troops as can be spared will be assigned
to a special campaign against the Siberian
tronghold.
A report was In circulation late last
".'..-'" ... '." "i-Jt'-- . .
night that the Japanese had routed the
Russians and entered Bomapudz. As yet
this is not confirmed.
SECOND LINE IS MAINTAINED
Russians Repulse Japanese Attack In
Desperate Fight.
SPECIAL CABL2.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 28. Several
reports have been received from General
Kuropatkln slnco Monday noon dealing
with the fighting la Manchuria.' Only a
small portion of them have been made
public,, but these demonstrate that the
fighting still continues and that the Jap
anese have scored some mall successes.
The Russian commander-in-chief Insists,
however, that tho "Russians are holding
their own and have In several. Instances
repulsed tho Japanese attacks.
Moving from Tslnkhetchen, which thev
captured late Saturday, the Japanese ad
vanced against tho front of the second
ary Russian position, which was held by
a strong force, among Yhlch were several
regiments of the Siberian division. The
Japanese first shelled the Russians with
heavy siege artillery, following this up
with an Infantry, attack, This was of a
most desperate character, but was re
pulsed and the Japanese were compelled
to retire, leaving muny dead and wound
ed behind. The Russian loss was not
great. Among tho wounded is Colonel
Gorsky.
Japanese attacks were also repulsed at
Tangu, Brldallng- and Bomapudz, but
were renewed against the latter place, and
the fighting was still In progress at last
accounts. It Is reported at the War
Office, but not officially confirmed, tljat
General Kuropatkln has been compelled
to withdraw some of his troops from the
right center to reinforce those who aro
opposing the Japanese turning movement.
PASSES TAKEN BY JAPANESE
They Capture Taling, Which Is Gate
way fo Mukden.
MUKDEN, Feb. 23. The Russians re
port that the Japanese are in possession
of Taling, and also the pass between
Taling and KatoUling. The possession of
Taling threatens Fusharnk, Tlepllng and
Hlegcsway.
Taling Is regarded .as of the same con
sequence to the Japanese in their opera
tions against Mukden as was Motlenllng
in relation to Llao Yang.
In case tho Japanese push- on to the
southeast, their operations will be among
the hills.
JAPANESE CROSS THE SHAKHE
Advance Is Checked by Russian Sup
ports Attack on Center.
MUKDEN, Feb- 27. Tho Japanese
crossed the Shakho River last evening-,
having driven in the pickets of the
Russian vanguard. Russian supports
came up and stopped the Japanese ad
vance. v
On the right flank all is quiet, but
movements -of thn Japanese Indicate an
intention o'f allacjsvtiiii Mu.?14rr-aen-ter,
at least? in. tho way of 'a demon
stration. Heavy firing continued today
to the eastward.
The soldiers of the Tslnkhetchen di
vision are In good spirits, in spite of
the heavy losses they have sustained
and the necessity which compelled them
to retreat. They are encouraged by
the execution . they wrought upon the
Japanese, whose bodies were piled. In
heaps outsido tho redoubts at Beresneff
Hill and the trenches at Tslnkhetchen.
Yesterday afternoon there was a
violent storm of heavy, wet snow. The
temperature during the night moder
ated. SHELLS DROPPING IN MUKDEN
Japanese Execute Turning Move
Far to the North.
NIU CHWANG, Feb. 27, via Tien Tsin
(6 P. M.). Acordlng to a person who
has just returned here from the front,
the Japanese are shelling Mukden with
11-inch mortars. The bombardment which
was recently commenced is further re
ported to have caused great damage far
behind the Russian lines.
Advices from Chinese sources say that
a general engagement is in progress all
along the line. The heaviest fighting Is
reported to be occurring on the Japanese
right, and General Kurokl Is said to be
sweeping far north and threatening to
crumple the Russians back on the rail
road. A special force Is reported to be mov
ing from the south and east, with the in
tention of cutting off the Russians com
munication by railroad from Vladivostok.
Russians Still Bombarding.
TOKIO, Feb. 27 (b P. M.). The only an
nouncement made today from the head
quarters of the Japanese armies In Man
churia, was a brief statement to the ef
fect that the Russians continued a bom
bardment, Saturday and Sunday; that the
weather Is very cold, and that It Is
snowing.
BELIEVED TO HAVE CAUGHT FIRE
' I its-
9 .
STEAMSHIP OREGON.
N FIRE AT SEA
Listing Steamer Seen
Off Crescent City, CaL
PROBABLY-THE OREGON
Passengers Are Transferred to
Collier and Tug.
CANNOT MAKE PORT AT. NIGHT
Vessel Was at First Supposed to Be
The Columbia, but She Arrived
In San Francisco Harbor
Lata at .Night.
CRESCENT CITY, Cal.. Feb. 27. Late
this afternoon two steamers, supposed to
be the steamer Columbia. and a collier,
arrived off this port.
The vessel, which Is supposed to be the
Columbia, had a heavy list and presented
the appearance of being on fire.
The passengers were transferred to the
collier and to . the steamer Del Norte,
which went out from this port.
The collier put to sea today and will
probably be followed by the Columbia.
The Del -Norte will come Into this har
bor In tho morning when particulars will
be obtainable.
COLUMBIA ARRIVES ON TIME.
Passed Into Port at San Francisco at
9 in the Evening.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27. The
steamer Columbia passed Into port at 9:15
o'clock tonight. Her arrival places an
other phase on the dispatch from Cres
cent City, Cal., tonight and shipping men
are endeavoring to discover the Identity
of the steamer reported to be in dis
tress off that harbor.
BELIEVED TO BE THE OREGON
Vessel for Northern Ports Due Off
Cresent City About Same Time.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27. It is be
lieved at the Merchants' Exchange in-thls
city that the Bteamer reported in dis
tress at Crescent City this afternoon la
the steamer Oregon, which left here yes
terday at 4 P. M. for northern points.
The Oregqn was due off Crescent City
at about 1 o'clock this afternoon. She
resembles In many ways the steamer Col
umbia and might readily be mistaken for
that vessel.
It Is thought that the collier mentioned
is the Meteor, coming here from Oyster
Bay, Alaska, and due here tomorrow.
It has been learned that the transfer of
passengers took place some distance out
side of Crescent City harbor, hence the
Inability of the people ashore to ascertain
the identity of the disabled vessel.
The failure of the steamer Del Norte
to return to the port of Crescent City
tonight Is explained by the dangerous
condition, at times, of the bar there,
and the hazard of attempting to make
port at dark.
MUNITIONS HAVE GONE ASTRAY
Steamer Carlisle, Bound for Port Ar
thur, Interned at Manila.
MANILA, Feb. 27. The British
steamer Carlisle, which was chartered
by the Russian government and which,
when 300 miles out from Vladivostok,
lost her propeller and resorted to sail,
which carried her by contrary winds
and currents to the Philippines, where
she anchored In San Miguel Bay, off the
south end of the Island of Luzon, Febru
ary 10, was towed Into this port today. At
the time of her arrival In San Miguel Bay
the vessel was 85 days out from Vladi
vostok with supplies for Port Arthur.
A Russian supercargo Is now in
charge of the Carlisle, the cargo of
which consists of powder, shells and
other munitions of war. The customs
AT SEA-
authorities here have sealed down the
hatches and 'the Carlisle will probably
be detained until the conclusion of the
war.
ATTACKS ON PASSES REPULSED
But Japanese Have Gained Advan
tage at Several Points.
MADYADANI, Manchuria. Feb. 27.
After fighting of the most desperate
nature, the Russians remained Sunday
evening in possession or Che and Da
Passes, against which the Japanese had
been flinging themselves madly from
noon until dark- The Russians, who
were greatly outnumbered, sustained
repeated attacks,- some units losing as
high as 70 per cent in killed or wound
ed In hand-to-hand fighting with the
bayonet, to which they were reduced
owing- to their having fired their last
bullets. In order to hold Da Pass, the
last reserves were sent to the firing
lino. '
The Japanese turninsr operations In
-the region of the Cauto Pass were
checked by a battalion of Russian In
fantry and several squadrons of cav
alry, who repulsed the Japanese with
heavy loss. The Japanese also tried
to advance on Nangou and Vanupudzl,
but were repulsed.
The present operations commenced
February 19, when the Japanese made
a night attack on Haba Pass, seven
miles south of Tslnkhetchen. February
20 they attacked Vanze Pass, seven
miles southeast of Tslnkhetchen, post
tions which themselves are far in ad
vance of the general front of the army.
The Russians made a counter attack
February 21, and temporarily gained
ground, but in the evening of Febru
ary 22, in the face of superior numbers,
they were flanked and retired on the
fortified line at Tslnkhetchen.
The Japanese stormed Bosneff Hill
throughout February 23, simultaneous
ly enfilading the Tslnkhetchen position
with artillery, and outflanking the
Russian Infantry. The Russians evac
uated Tslnkhetchen February 24, and
retired fighting a stubborn rear-guard
action, and halting at Da and Che
Passes.
JAPANESE ADVANCE GOES ON
But Kuropatkln Says He Repulsed
Them at Several Points.
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 27 (7 P. M.).
A special dispatch from General Ku
ropatkln, dated February 26, says:
"The enemy is continuing the offen
sive against the front of our Tslnk
hetchen detachment, and has "turned
both its flanks.
"The Japanese have also advanced
against Kantle Pass, turning our left
flank, but all his attacks on Tangu and
Beydaling have been repulsed. His of
fensive movement against Bomapudz
has also been repulsed. At some posi
tions our riflemen forced the Japanese
outposts to retire.
"Colonel Gorsky was severely
wounded."
Japanese Cannonade the Passes.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 37. General
Kuropatkln, In a dispatch dated February
25 announced that the Japanese have
commenced cannonading In the direction
of Gauto and Wanfun passes.
CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPEB
The Weather.
TODAY'S Showers and cooler: winds mostly
southerly.
TESrEIUATS Maximum temperature, 64
deg.; minimum, 40. Precipitation, none.
The War In the Far East.
Japanese have 'begun movement to capture
Mukden. Page 1.
Tstnketchln taken after desperate battle; also
Taling .the key to Mukden. Page 1.
Renewal of cold weather and snow storms
cause great loss and suffering. Page 1.
Officers who broke parole ordered back to San
Francisco. Page 1.
Affairs la Russia. .
Peasants join strike movement In Poland and
burn saloons. Page 0.
Gorky Is released and re-arrested, to be exiled
from St. Peterurg. Page 5.
Strikers in Warsaw murder policemen. Page 5.
Government takes strong measures to keep rail
roads in operation. Page 6.
National.
Senate acquits Judge Swayne on every charge.
Tage 3.
President's policy regarding Navy and Monroe
Doctrine attacked by Democratic Senators.
Page 4.
Final setUement of Klamath irrigation scheme
postponed till April. Page 4.
Panama Canal Commission violates law in
buying supplies. Page 4.
Senate will not Increase Columbia River ap
propriations. Page 3.
Burton wins victory over Hemenway in the
House. Page 3.
Domestic. ,
Gates abandons wheat corner and rakes in a
fortune. Page 1.
Death of ex-Secretary Boutwell. Page 4.
Eleven negroes killed and many injured by col
lapse of a church. Page 5.
Chicago policeman murders an actress and
commits suicide. Page 4.
Politics.
Decision of Colorado contest depends on rail
road charter fight. Page 4.
Nledrlnghaus withdraws from Senatorial light
in Missouri. Page 4.
Kansas attacks salt trust. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Increase In Imports of tropical produet. Page
15.
Heavy dealings on Stock Exchange. Page 15.
Break in wheat at Chicago. Page 15.
Ban Francisco wheat market unsettled. Page 15.
Cargo ship Lonsdale arrives from the Tyne.
Page 7.
Pacific Coast.
Unknown steamer sen to be aflre off Crescent
City, Cal.; passengers taken off by Del
Norte. Page 1.
Judge MoBrlde makes Important decision In
logging case. Page 8.
Senators Bunkers, French. Wright and Em
mons expelled from the California Legisla
ture. Page 0.
Seventh satellite of Jupiter discovered at Lick
Observatory. Page 6.
Pacific Coast Legislatures.
Tejnhill citizens start petition for referendum
on $1,000,000 appropriation. Page 1.
Governor Mead vetoes the capital-removal bill;
concurrent resolution will be introduced."
Page T.
Railroad Commission men confident of earning
measure through the Senate. Page T.
Portland and Vicinity.
Politicians discuss retirement of W. F; Mat
thew as political leader and his probable
successor. Page IS.
G Ev S. Wood blames stupid laws for land
fraud. Page 12.
School Board has & llvly wrangle aver the
merit system and the prospective raise In
teachers' salaries. Page 14.
High School student grills the frats. Page i.
Man who fights codicil of father's wilt likes to
do fancy needlework. Page 10.
Prelude to evangelistic work in Portland will
be cottage prayer meetings. Page 10.
Applicant for permission to conduct a saloon
Is given the lie and a license In the Council
meeting. Page 0.
Sermon against saloon stirs city fathers of
St. Johns. Page 10.
Club women and surgeons discuss, the ethics
of staying children who are defective.
Page 9.
Chamber of Commerce will see that the law is
enforced against unsightly billboards and
rubbish piles. Page 10. -
El U
Gates Causes Sudden
Tumble in Wheat.
MAKES LARGE PROFITS
Panic Averted by Intervention
of Armours,
GATES WILL CORNER CORN
Wild Stampede to Sell Follows An
nouncement That Gates Has
Abandoned Corner Great
Slaughter of Lambs.
FACTS ABOUT GATES WHEAT
CORNER.
Corner begun in October, 1004.
Collapsed February 27, 1905.
Total holdings (estimated). 30,000,000
bushels.
Total profits (estimated), $3,000,000 to
$s.ooolooo.
CHICAGO, Feb. 27. (Special.) The
Gate3 corner In May wheat collapsed to
day with a terrific bang. Millions of bush
els of the cereal were thrown onthe local
market by tho clique houses, causing
prices to fall with a crash. The slump
caused a panic among smaller holders,
who had been following the bull leaders
with tnc innocent faith of the lamb being
led to the shearing pen.
The price of May wheat fell to $1:14.
Less than two weeks ago It sold at 5L21.
The closing price Saturday was $L1S.
The trade was caught unawares by the
severe break, and wheat bought by out
siders at fancy prices was sold out at a
tremendous loss.
Gates Starts Stampede.
Word went out at the close last week
that the Gates party was ready to throw
up the deal, having even at that time dis
posed of a. large portion of its line. How
ever, brokers were skeptical, and, when
tho market opened a trifle higher this
morning, the belief generally prevailed
that such reports were without founda
tion. Trade proceeded In the usual way
for about' half an hour, when without
warning the market suddenly started to
tumble.
"Gates has thrown up the sponge." bro
kers shouted, as they Baw prices giving
way, and some of the bears gave vent to
their enthusiasm by frantically waving
their hats In the air. The demonstration,
however, soon took a "more serious turn.
Commission-houses were loaded up with
wheat on which margins were fast disap
pearing, and selling on stop-loss orders
threw the market Into a fever of excite
ment, which quickly spread to all parts
of the floor, then to commission offices
throughout the down-town district.
It is difficult to say how far-reaching
the panic might have become If Armour
had not come to the rescue of the market.
That Interest bought heavily around tha
low point. Other big houses also cams
to the support of the market. Short
-wheat was covered in large quantities.
These purchases effected a partial resto
ration of confidence and brought about a
rally, which landed the May price at
51.16'J- After this the market quieted
somewhat.
Corner Made Millions.
Besides John W. Gates, Jame3 J. Hill
and other big Wall-street speculators are
said to have been Interested in the deal.
They controlled a line of May wheat at
one time, it Is conservatively estimated,
aggregating 30,000.000 bushels. Most of
this wheat was bought between 51 .OS and
51.15. The same wheat is supposed to
have been mostly sold out at prices rang
ing between $1.13 and $1.20, and It Is fig
ured out that between $5,000,000 and $8,000,
000 has been taken out of the market by
the Gates party.
Will Corner Corn Next.
It is the belief among the traders that
the Gates party, having disposed of most
of lt3 wheat, now Intends to boost the
price of corn. Large purchases of the
latter cereal have been made of late by
houses reported to be trading on orders
for the "big fellows." The market was
well sustained today, and late in the ses
sion made .a remarkably strong showing.
May corn closing at 48 cents, or 1 cent
higher than last Saturday.
ORGANIZING CHINESE BANDITS
Japanese' Movement in Mongolia Is
Aimed at the Railroad.
MUKDEN, Feb. 27. A correspondent of
the Associated Press, who has lust re
turned here after a trip westward to In
vestigate the reports of the presence o
Japanese in Mongolia, shows them to bn
exaggerated. The Japanese there are In
small numbers and are partly engaged in
inciting the Chinese against the Russians,
and In gathering bread grain. They are
sending south great Quantities thereof.
Others are organizing and training
bands of Mongols and Chinese bandits,
which are Intended to attack the railroad.
The Japanese number 600 and the Chinese
bandits 3000, scattered about Mongolia.
The larger bands are reported to be gcing
to Bouhedoou and Taltslkar, In Man
churia, and the smaller bands are pene
trating further north into Siberia, in
tending to attack the railroad somewhere
near Baikal.
The repotted turning of the Kusslan
right was- largely Imaginary, but affairs
on the left flank, where the Japanese
have no lees than several divisions con
centrated, remain, serious.