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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1906)
10 THE SIORXIXG OREGOMAX. TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1906. HITCHCOCK HIPPED PLOT IN THE BUD Heney Tells How Secretary Prevented $300,000 For est Land Fraud. MAYS' TRIAL SIDELIGHT Government Proves That Alleged Conspirators Attempted to Se cure $30 Timber for $1.25 Acre Under Indemnity. Written evidence to pjve that the alleged conspirators in the isiue Moun tain forest reserve land-fraud case not only planned to file on and exchange for scrip all the surveyed school lands within the area withdrawn from entry, but also attempted to fraudulently se cure from the State of Oregon the 15,- 000 acres or so of unsurveyed lands as well for a like purpose, was the feature of the trial in the United States Dis trict Court yesterday. For the most part the oral evidence adduced by the fcrovernment was hum drum, the nearest approach to a sensa tlon being when several of the persons whom the Government charges to have perjured themselves in making- fraud ulent applications for the purchase of school lands in benalf of the defend ants. F. P. Mays, Willard N. Jones, George Sorenson and their fellow con spirators at Washington, took the wit ness stand to accuse J. L. Wells, of having grossly misrepresented matters to them to Induce them to sign. Wells is the East Side notary public who se cured the applications for Jones. This testimony, and the evidence re lating to the unsurveyed school lands, was put In at the morning session. The testimony in the afternoon was mainly cumulative,. the only new feature being the Introduction of the first evidence directly connecting the Defendant Sorenson with the alleged conspiracy. Mays Used His "Pull." The alleged attempt of Mays and his friends to "grab" the unsurveyed school lands came out while Notary Wells was on the stand concluding his testimony, begun Saturday afternoon. By introduc ing a score or more of what the Gov ernment claims to be fraudulent appli cations Special Prosecutor Heney proved that Mays and his associates prior to the creation of the Blue Moun tain reseive, applied to the state Land Board to purchase all the unsurveyed school lands within the proposed lim its of the reserve, and by the use of Mays political "pull" - took steps to compel the state to select for them under the Indemnity provision of the lieu land act of 1897, about 10,000 acres of the most . valuable timber lands then remaining open to entry In Ore gon. These lands, which Mr. Heney assert ed to have been worth at least $30 an acre at that time, principally lie within the limits of what is now the Maury Mountain forest reserve. At that date this reserve had not been established. This jaoo.OOO fraud, Mr. Heney bluntly asserted, was nipped In the bud by Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock, who held when the filings reached Washington, that the Blue Mountain reserve, not having been established at th; time the applications to pur chase were made, there was yet no base for the making of the indemnity selections by the state under the act of 1837. Had the deal been carried out, these valuable timber lands, Mr. Heney said, would have been sold to Mays and his friends for a beggarly $1.25 an acre. Snag in Land Office. The conspirators, Mr. Heney alleged In his statement to the court, struck their first snag when they made their filings on the timber land in the Land Office at The Dalles. The Register there refused to accept the filings, but was finally induced to accept them, subject to review by the authorities at Washington. By the time the papers reached Washington, the Secretary of the Interior had been Informed of the alleged fraud, and took steps to pre vent it. At the opening of the morning session Mr. Heney resumed his examination of Wells. Wells was shown and identified a large number of applications for the pur chase of indemnity bonds In' Crook Coun ty, now embraced in the Maury Mountain forest reserve. The witness testified that he obtained signers for these applications in 1902 for Jones at the customary rate of $5 "a head." paying the applicants from J2.50 to $3.50. v Immaterial; Says Mr. Huston. - Mr. ' Huston raised the objection tnat the lands described in the applications were not in the Blue Mountain reserve, and were not included in the Ormsby re port, and that the applications were made after the withdrawal of the Ormsby re port lands from settlement. Therefore, Mr. Huston argued, the papers were not competent evidence. Mr. Heney stated that he would make them material by proving that the de fendants were not satisfied with attempt ing to purchase all the surveyed school lands embraced in the Blue Mountain re serve, but attempted to secure the un surveyed lands as well, as has already been set out. and thereby file on $30 an acre timber lands at $1.25 an acre. No, Merely High Finance. "Was that a crime, Mr. Heney?" asked 'Mr. Huston. "No, that wasn't a crime." retorted Mr. Heney, with some heat, "but it was a fraud on the Government, and the Gov ernment in this case Is nothing but the people, and In prosecuting this case I am representing only the people." The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Fenton. who brought out that "Uncle John" Kenworthy, a pillar in the Metho dist Church in Portland, and Major George Williams, another prominent and respected Oregon man, were among those who had sold their school land rights to Wells for Jones. On redirect examination Mr. Heney "got back" by asking the witness if he had not served creditably In the Civil War and been honored with office by the G. A. R. "Now. your own reputation has never been questioned, for that matter, has it?" he concluded. "No," admitted the witness, somewhat ruefully, "not until this matter came up." Another Notary Testified. F. M. Culver, a notary, who swore a bunch of 14 applicants for Mr. Wells, "un sight unseen." was called by Mr. Heney next and testified to that fact. He saM Mr. Wells requested him to do so and gave him "a quite nominal " consideration, 25 cents or B0 cents each. Witness said he had been a notary for 10 or 12 years and was still one. Cross-examined by Judge Pipes, witness said he was not in the habit of swearing absent persons. didn't "think it was safe" to take such acknowledgments to deeds, mortgages, etc. In such cases there might be an Inquiry. In the case of school land applications, witness was not so particu lar. He considered that it made no par ticular difference, since, as he under stood it, the state was getting its money for the school lands, and nobody was harmed. Of course he "didn't know what these men were up to" when he swore the absent witnesses for Wells. Signed Away His Rights. George W. Dustln was the next witness, testifying simply to the fact that Wells, the notary, asked him to sign one of the applications for school lands, introduced in evidence. Witness fcad no Intention of buying the land for himself; understood that he was merely selling or signing away his right to buy school lands. He was not cross-examined. J. W. Myers gave similar testimony. Mr. Fenton cross-examined, asking him to read1 the affidavit attached to the ap plication and then asking him whether he had read it at the time he signed It. Witness did not remember. He thought he had a right to sell his school land rights. Mrs. Rose Oliver, of Cascade Locks, formerly of Portland, testified that Wells called her Into his office one day In 1902. Wells had certain papers In his hand and she signed them for herself and her hus band and received $2 for each signature. Says Wells Deceived Her. Besides making this sensational state ment, witness clinched her testimony by stating" tliat she did not read the papers, which she signed in - blank, and signed them merely as one friend would do for another, it being represented to her by Wells that he was about to buy some school lands and needed the signatures of a certain number of persons. M "He said he wanted my signature and that of my husband. I told him my hus band was v not in the city, but that I would sign for myself. He induced me to sign for my husband, too. He did not tell me that I was signing away any rights, and I did not know I was doing so.' Judge Pipes cross-examined the witness. She Sticks to Her Story. "You say you signed the papers Just as one friend would do for another. But you also eay you got $2 for each of those sig natures. Was that acting like one friend to another?" Mrs. Oliver, fair and buxom, blushed in a way that did not belle her first name. "I thought it was no more than right that he should pay me for signing, in asmuch as he was to be the beneficiary," she said. Mrs. Oliver was not shaken In her testi mony by the cross-examination. C. R. Powell testified that he did not read the school land application he signed for Wells, and did not think Wells ad ministered any oath to him. Knott Springs a Sensation. G. O. Knott, the next witness, created a mild sensation by saying that he was not certain that the signature to the ap plication bearing his name, already In evidence, was his own. Witness was excused from the stand after writing his name on a slip of paper for future reference, and will be recalled. W. 9. Knott, the next witness, testified that he was paid for signing certain pa pers for Wells in December, 1900, but could not ' positively Identify the signa tures on the school land application and assignment in evidence. On cross-examination by Mr. Fenton and Judge Pipes, witness said he did not read the papers and that they were not fully explained to him. He understood that he was merely signing for Wells as a witness. He was so Informed by a friend who' accompanied him to Wells' office. Mr. Heney 'Waxes Sarcastic. "Do you mean to tell this Jury under oath," sarcastically demanded Mr. Heney on redirect examination, "that you thought you were being paid $2.50 for merely signing your name as a witness?" The witness answered affirmatively, and Mr. Heney, sniffing contemptuously, ex cused hfm from the stand. A. J. Powell, formerly a barber, but now an employe of the city water works, was asked whether his signature ap peared on the school land application handed him that of W. 3. Knott. Wit ness eaid his name appeared on the paper, but balked on swearing that it was his signature. The name was signed as a witness. Heney Cross-Examines Him. Mr. Heney gave the Jury a foretaste of his ability as a cross-examiner by fierce ly cross-questioning the witness, trying to pin him down to answer yes or no to the question "Is that your signature?" The witness finally answered "No," but not until after benevolent Judge Pipes had Interceded to protect him from the gruelling he was receiving. Cross-examined by Mr. Fenton, witness said he did not know any of the defend ants' attorneys and had never talked with them; also that for six days he had been kept "upstairs" by Mr. Neuhausen. The defense takes a wicked delight in getting' before the jury references to the Government "bullpen," where the wit nesses for the prosecution are herded. He Took Knott to Wells. On redirect examination Powell testi fied that he was the man who took Wit ness W. S. Knott to Wells' office. Wit ness admitted that he had signed away his school land rights to WellB. He ad mitted that he signed the application shown him. If your honor please, after looking I over this signature. I believe I owe the witness an apology," said Mr. Heney. The witness looked relieved and smiled. Mr. Heney smiled, and, after a few more unimportant questions. Powell left the stand with his ruffled plumage thoroughly smoothed down. F. T. Jones, colored, was the first wit ness of the afternoon session. He testi fied that his school land application. In evidence, was signed at the request of Defendant George Sorenson in th kitchen of a saloon in the Sherlock building. Al though the affidavit purports to have been sworn to before J. L. Wells as . notary public, witness said he had never been before Well. Friend of Jones' on Stand. Thaddeus B. Potter, who was a notary public having deskroom in the office of Defendant Jones in- 1900, testified to swearing a bunch of 40 applicants to affi davits for the purchase of school lands on May 10, 1901, at the request of Defendant Sorenson. The applications and assign ments of the same were all signed in blank, containing no land descriptions when executed. Witness saw Sorenson pay the signers "a dollar or so" each. He testified at some length, identifying various papers introduced in evidence. He was not cross-examined. J. J. Fitzgerald, Deputy City Attorney, was 4 next called. He testified that he had known Sorenson for about 16 years. He told of taking acknowledgments to numerous applications to purchase school lands for Sorenson in 1900. ' Fitzgerald Tells His Story. . . These applications were read and intro duced in evidence, together with the as signments executed by the applicants on the same dates. Fitzgerald admitted that these assignments were sworn to before him In blank as to name of assignee and date of assignment. . After this evidence had been put In, Mr. Heney asked witness whether he had ever purchased) any school lands from Soren son. Witness said no, he had not. but that in March, 19o4, Sorenson came to him and borrowed $1900, for which he- took as se curity certificates of purchase for two sections of school lands, Sorenson never repaid the money, and. after waiting two years, the witness. In order to protect his loan, paid the balance of 50 cents an acre due the state on the land and took a deed In the name of his wife, Emma Fitzger ald. Witness was cross-examined by Mr. Fenton In relation to the lands he had acquired from Sorenson under the fore closure proceedings. Witness said he had examined the field notes of the sur vey of the lands and had ascertained that they were partially timbered. On redirect examination witness said Sorenson had told him that the lands were worth $2.50 an acre. Sorenson did not tell him the lands were within the Blue Mountain reserve and would be good for lieu lands. Witness did not learn that the lands were within the re serve until sometime later. Robert Schulze, an old resident of Port land, testified that in 1901 and 1902 he was.runnlng a rooming-house and saloon on Fourth and Stark streets. Had been acquainted with Sorenson for about 16 years. Witness and Sorenson were at one time partners for about a year in the real estate business. Signed a Friend's Xante. Witness testified that he signed several sets of school land applications for Soren son in 1902. He signed his name to one set. To the other he signed names of various friends or acquaintances. One of these friends was Ernest Schwab. The application signed with Schwab's name was Introduced in evidence. It purports to have been acknowledged be fore Sorenson as a notary public. Sor enson's attorneys admitted his signature on the paper as genuine. Another application was signed with. Johnn Meier's name. Witness said some time after he signed the paper for Meier the latter came into his place and wit ness told him he -had applied for some school tands for him and asked him ' if he wanted them. Meier said be had land enough. Didn't Set Up Drinks. "Did you set up drinks when he said that?" asked Mr. Heney. , Witness smiled broadly and sajd he didn't think so. Witness also told Schwab that he had signed his name. Schwab merely .laughed and said he did not want any land. These applications were used to secure lands in the Blue Mountain district. Mr. Heney stated in reply to an ob jection from Jones' lawyer that he In troduced this testimony merely against Sorenson. Mr. Heney said he did this because he "had enough against the other defend ants and was not going to take any chances." "I am staying on the safe side," said he, smiling broadly at Mr. Fenton. Leading Lawyers in Tilt. "That Is, you think you are," remarked Mr. Fenton. "Oh, no, I know I am, and I think the Appellate Court will think so, too." Schulze was still on the stand when court adjourned. SLOW WORK ON PIPE LINE COMPLETIOX POSTPONED BY DELAY IX GETTING FIXTURES. Scarcity of Labor Anpther Cause of Embarrassment to Contractor on Peninsula Water System. It is due to the fact that the water committee has not been able to furnish all the gates and other fixtures for the high-service water main that is being laid from the upper Mount Tabor reser voir for the Peninsula system, that the contractor who is laying the pipe Is not being fined $125 per day for not com pleting the work on time. All the pipe is delivered, but th large gates and some other fixtures have not yet arrived. The standplpe in the Vernon tract is completed, and the connection with the pipe Una is being made. Pipe-laying is now going forward In the Vernon tract, the force working north and south from Alberta street. Between Alberta street and the standplpe the main Is yet to be laid, but the longest stretch is between Alberta street and the carbarn on Kill ingsworth avenue, the distance being about two miles. There is still a short section on Gravel Hill to be laid. It was skipped because of the treacherous character of the ground, which caved in as fast as ex cavated, and men were afraid to work there. There are several places between the standpipe and Mount Tabor where short connections are to be made. At Mount Tabor the big meter Is on hand, and everything is in readiness to install It. There will be four of these meters, two for the Bast Side and two for the West Side. These meters will show on what system the greatest wastage of water exists, and then the wastage may be traced down. It cannot be said now when the pipeline will be completed. There is yet much work to be done, and the contractors have trouble In getting and keeping a fojee of men. Few em ployes remain very long at work on the Job. They come one day and are gone the next, or soon thereafter. Cow and Chickens Prove Very Costly Dissension at St. Johns Leads to a Personal Investigation by Re corder Thorndyke. ((RIVE plunks for a fine and three I and one-half plonks for costs! Wouldn't that Jar your upper story? And all for a few chickens and a cow. Thus quoth J. Mortenson. when Re corder Thorndyke, Recorder of St. Johns, taxed him Saturday ' morning for keeping 15 chickens and a cow that "never hurt nobody,"' as he said. G. R. Black was the 'complainant There was a cloud of witnesses, whose testimony was to the effect that Mor tenson was maintaining a nuisance. Some said Mortenson's establishment was as clean as a dinner' plate, but sev eral others remarked that it was very bad. Recorder Thorndyke stepped out and was gone for some time. When he re turned he looked pale and sick. It was said that he had been to the premises and examined them for himself. How ever that may be, he gasped when he resumed his seat. "Eight and one-half slmoleons will be taxed on the defend ant," he said. And eternal justice was vindicated once more. 1 CHEAP RATES EAST On September S and 10 the Canadian Pacific will sell round-trip tickets to Eastern terminals at very low rates. Tickets good for stopovers, with privilege of returning same line or via any direct line. It will cost you no more to travel via "the great scenic route." Double dally train service and the best of every thing. For full particulars call. on or ad dress F. R. Johnson, F. & P. A., Port land, Or. grHEDCU OF STEAMER "I. J. POTTER" The T. J. Potter leaves Ash-street dock for North Beach, touching at Astoria, as follows: August 28. 9:30 A. M.; August 20, 11 A. M.; September 1. 12:01 P. M.; September 4, 7 A. M. : September 6, 8:30 A. M.; Septem ber 8:20 A. M. From Ilwaco: August 26, 6 P. M.; Au gust 29, 8 A. M. ; August 31, 8 A. M.; Sep tember 2. 9 P. M. ; September 5, 11:90 A. M. ; September 7, 12:15 P. M. ; September, 9. 5 P. M. Tickets at Third and Washington streets and at Ash-street dock. Meals may be secured on the boat Hood's Sarsaparllla purifies the blood and strengthens the wtjole system, FIRE IN BULL RUN FOREST RESERVE Woods Ablaze at Headworks of Portland's Water , System. CITY'S SUPPLY IS MENACED Large Force of Men at Work In Effort to Stay the Flames In spector Bronson Leaves for the Scene. Two forest fires are raging within the confines of the Bull Run Reserve, and while it Is thought that one, at least. Is already under control, and that the other will be extinguished some time today, they are bad enough to arouse considerable anxiety In cer tain quarters. This morning Forest In spector D. D. Bronson, who has charge COMES TO OREGON TO HUNT BIG GAME. Champion J. J. Jeffries. EUGENE, Or., Aug. 27. (Spe cial.) Champion Jim Jeffries and party will leave Eugene early to morrow morning on a hunting and, fishing trip up the McKenzie River. Every preparation In the way of supplies lias been looked after and a successful hunt Is anticipated by Jeffries and his dozen friends. The party Includes: Mrs. Jeffries, E. W. Hopperstead and wife. Miss Hopperstead, J. Myrlck, Jr., and George F. Miller, of Los Angeles; Dick Adams, of San Francisco; J. M. phmers, of New York, and Watt Montelth, of Portland, and three other companions. of the district embracing the Bull Run reserve and the north half of the Cas cade forest reserve, will go to the scene of the conflagration and remain there until all danger is over. Information to the effect that the fires were threatening; the reserve and incidentally menacing the " Bull Run water system was contained in a tele phonic message to the forest inspector yesterday from the superintendent of a lumber company in that vicinity, who offered the services of 15 of his. em ployes to combat the flames. Mr. Bronson authorized the employment of the men, and later received a report that the smaller of the two fires was under control, and that It was thought the other would be subjugated without much difficulty some time today. The fires are located in two canyons running across township 1 south, range 6 east. It is thought that the forest fires are mainly responsible for the prevailing heat, as well as the heavy atmosphere that has hovered over the city ever since the fires start ed last Sunday. . Continuous Chain of Reserves. M. J. McVean, a clerk in the office of Glfford Plnchot, head of the forestry division of the Government, is here in attendance at the land-fraud trials as a witness in connection with the Blue Mountain forest reserve case. After his testimony has been given, Mr. Mc Vean. will make a tour of Inspection of a number of the Western reserves for the purpose of familiarizing himself with the conditions as they actually exist in the field, as much of the work relating to the Government of the dif ferent forest reserves on the Pacific Coast comes under his personal ob servation. According to Mr. McVean, it is the ultimate policy of the Government to establish a continuous chain of forest reserves extending from the Mexican border to the Canadian line, and that the first connection in this respect, to rx , ) v L ELECTED SUNDAY SCHOOL FIELD WORKER FOR OREGON REV. CHARLES A. PHIPPS, who has Just been elected Sunday school field worker by the Sunday School As sociation, will arrive October 1 to en ter on his work. He will make his home and headquarters In Portland. Mr. Phlpps was born" In Western New York, In Albion, Orleans County, a little over 40 years ago, received his academic and university training In that state and taught school, when he engaged in business for a while. In 1891 he re moved to Washington, and after teach ing for two yeurs .assumed the position of Sunday school missionary for the Presbyterian Church in Eastern Wash ington and Idaho. He was ordained to the ministry by the presbytery of Spo kane, and served 11 years, although part of that time he gave half his time to the duties of pastor-at-large, or Presbyterian evangelist. For the past two years he has been In the pastorate, and has been successful. Mr. Phlpps is considered a good Sunday school work er, an able organizer, an attractive, ready speaker and a common-sense preacher. Mr. Phlpps is also a fair leader of music, and sings solos effec tively in connection with his work. He Is a robust, active man, good natured and a good "mixer." He has attained some prominence in Washington, and declined several Important stations to accept the interdenominational work of Oregon. His greatest success has been with young men. He hopes to be a strong factor .in the Oregon Sunday school work. Mr. Phlpps is a married be made between fhe Washington and Rainier reserves, is" already in process of arrangement. Ex-Forest Inspector H. tv Langille dis putes the statements that Tiave recently been made that old and experienced forest rangers have been dismissed from service and their places filled by a new set who are manifestly incompetent. "As a matter of fact," said he, "the responsibility for fires In the various re serves rests with the parsimony of Con gress in not providing sufficient funds to properly carry on necessary operations and protect the timber. Only 18 rangers are allowed on each of the two divisions comprising the Caacad forest reserve, which extends almost the entire length of the state, and which is fully 60 miles in width in places. These 36 men are unable to cope with the situation, because it im poses too many hardships upon them to properly patrol euch a large extent of territory, and the consequence is that de structive fires are liable to occur at any time. "So far as the new men being subser vient to political Influence Is concerned," continued Langille, "that is simply ridic ulous, as they are) all under civil service rules and were accepted for their general knowledge of forestry. The bad feature of the whole thing Is that they are not paid enough for the service demanded, be ing allowed but t0 a month and having to provide their own horses. That is not a sufficient attraction, and the only rea son they remain in service Is because of an inherent love of the woods, as any of them could get 3 a day working around a logging camp. They ought to receive not less than 100 a month, and Congress should make additional appro priations to carry out the provisions of the forestry laws in a proper manner. Resigned Because of Poor Pay. The ex-forestry Inspector resigned from the service on account cf th poor pay, and declared that be had no selfish inter-' est in the matter. He stated further that he was a member of the board thai px amlned the rangers touching their quali fications to fill the positions, and that they were subjected to a critical inquiry in that respect. Few persons realize fully the extent of legal obligation Involved when campflres are permitted to remain unextinguished In the different reserves. So many com plaints arose on account of the willful neglect of hunters in this respect that Congress, on May 5, 1900, passed the fol lowing act bearing upon the subject: That any person who shall willfully or maliciously set on fire, or cause to be set on fire, any timber, underbrush, or grass upon the public domain, or shall leave or suffer fire to burn unattended near any tim ber or other Inflammable material, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof In any District Court of the United States having Jurisdiction of the same shall be fined In a sum not more than 15000 or be imprisoned for a term of not more than two years, or both. Sec. 2. That any person who shall build a fire In or near any forest, timber, or other inflammable material upon the public do main shall, before leaving said lire, totally extinguish the same. Any person falling to do so . shall be deemed guilty of a misde meanor, and upon conviction thereof In any District Court of the United States having Jurisdiction of the same shall be fined in a um not more than 1100O or be Imprisoned for a term of not more than one year, or both. Sec. 3. That In all cases arising under this act the fines collected snail be paid into the public school fund of the county In which the lands where, the offense was committed are situated. Farmer Accidentally Executes a Dog la Startled to And Animal Hanging; With a Broken Necls From Rear of Wagon. fjr AY, mister, you had better cut O your dog loose," exclaimed a youngster to a farmer who was driv ing out the Section Line road from Portland Friday afternoon. The farmer stopped, and, looking back, was surprised to notice that the dog he had started with had disappeared- from the wagon. He was tak ing' the dog home and had tied him in side the wagon near the back end, thinking he was safe, but gave the ani mal too much slack and he had Jumped out. The rope tightened around his neck. Just allowing his hind feet to touch the ground. WJth the dog in this position, the farmer had driven for several blocks. He quickly cut the rope, but it was too late; the poor dog had choked to death. 'Well, well," exclaimed the farmer, "I paid J2.50 for a live dog, and now I've a dead one on my hands." Bishop Attacks Separation Law. PARIS, Aug.. 27. The bishop of Bayonne has seat "a circular to the clergy of his diocese with reference to the pope's encyclical on the law pro viding for the separation of church and state, which Is attracting considerable Interest, in view of the approaching second conference of the French bish ops. The bishop says that the church has no right to adapt its divine consti tution to the "legislative fantasies of short-sighted politicians who are showing themselves to be enemies of the republic by supressing liberties and oppressing the conscience of cler icals, whose' only defense Is to place themselves under common law as French citizens." Will Settle Tripoli Boundary. PARIS,. Aug. 27. The difference be tween France and Turkey In regard to the boundaries of Tripoli are believed In well-informed circles to be near a solution. It Is thought a compromise will be reached. 1 "?3tw. i ' Iter. Charles A. Phlpps. man and has resided at Spokane, Wash., but at present is at Coulee City. He will reach Portlnnd in time to look over the field before taking up his work. -.. .. ! -' - r'LZ illllill MANY RURAL LINES Telephones for Farmers of Multnomah and Clackamas. STOCK COMPANY IS FORMED Residents In Vicinity of Gresham to Provide Themselves With Mod ern Convenience at Mini mum Expenditure. GRESHAM, Or., Aug. 27. (Special.) Rural telephones are becoming generally adopted here, and are as popular among the farmers of this region as the rural free delivery system. The free mall serv ice covers almost the whole of Eastern Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, and the rural telephone system will be a close second before next Winter. The Multnomah & Clackamas County Telephone Company was Incorporated at Gresham. only three months ago, with 200 stockholders, and now has a service covering about ten square miles of terri tory, with a list of "0 subscribers and many more waiting to be given connec tions as soon as the lines shall be con structed. The company now has about 20 miles of wire strung, with a fully-equipped cen tral station at Gresham. and by an ar rangement with the Pacific States Com pany has long-distance connection through its system. Extensions Now Under Way. New trunk" lines are now being built from here td Fairvlew and Pleasant Home, with severul lateral branches. At Troutdale, a similar company has been formed, which is birllding lines west to Fairvlew and east to Covbett, with branch lines wherever needed. ver at Damas cus, In Clackamas County, is another system, and at Corbett the people have another company with over 6d telephones. When all these systems have been fin ished they will be connected anil use will be free to subscribers over all the terri tory between Bridal Veil, on the Colum bia River, and Oregon City, and through out the region between those places, cov ering the most thickly-settled portions of the eastern parts of both counties. As the rural lines are extended further in different directions, it will be possible to communicate much farther. The Pa cific States Company gives free switches at all centrals where its wires are used, in consideration of the business it gets in long-distance service, which Includes Portland. How Company Is Formed. The rural system of organizing and building the lines is very simple. A stock company was formed at Gresham, with 200 shares, divided among an equal num ber of stockholders. The system here costs less than 25 a mile, which Is the price of one share of stock. That rum entitles the owner to a telephone in his home and prevents a monopoly, as all subscribers are interested alike. Those who do not take stock can get a phone Installed by paying 112 a year, which sum goes to the company and will in a few years return the shareholders their orig inal investment. The Pacific States Company publishes a list of all names in its directory, which is furnished each patron. F IS LAWLESSNESS NOT AN IN HERITANCE? Defense of the Colored Man From an Attack by a. Southern Gen tleman. PORTLAND. Aug-. 23. (To the Editor.) You will kindly indulge me with space in your valuable paper to say a tew words la answer to a letter which appeared In your last Sunday's Issue from the hand of one W. W. Goodrich, who styles himself a Southern gentleman (?) entitled, "Taught Negro 'No Good. " To a person who has never lived in the South, to a person who knows naught of the South except what they have learned from the columns of newspapers and mag&xines, the story seems a fair one, but to one who was born and reared In their midst and has given the subject much consideration, it looks so different. Slaves Were Protectors. He point with pride to his far-away South ern "home, sweet home." ere it was ac cursed by negro denomination and rapine. He says nothing about the scores of years ye, the hundreds of years that the negroes' hardy hand of toll provided life and sustenance for his much-boasted chlvalrlo families of Dixie. He fallsi to Sote that when the Civil War was going on, when every white man and boy was called to arms, to clinch the bonds of slavery tighter than before, that that very same slave was kept on field and by fireside as protector and provider for the homea and families of his oppressor. And not a single Instance is on record where that slave and (so called) rapine ever betrayed his trust. Other Omissions. He says nothing of the seven-tenths of the present colored population of the South who are octoroons, quadroons, etc (a result of forced amalgamation of the races) who are living testimonials of a condition that ex isted during the days of slavery, when for a female slave to deny her master his will was to Incur Increased servitude, lashea upon the naked back and possibly sold to the "nigger traders" of rhe far-off South. He says nothing of the tear-drenched fur rows that were being tilled by the weeping mother for the babe that was torn from her sorrowing breast, says nothing of the fugitive slave whose, blood-stained footsteps had been traced over"hllls and through the swamps by bloodhounds and finally returned to their mas ter's homes, to be lashed, hated and despised. Is it a wonder that a person bred under such conditions, born and reared with such asso ciation should develop into rapists, libertines and moral degenerates when the same had been their masters, advisers and possibly their fathers? Ignorance Not Confined to Negro. Strange, too, the Southern gentleman points with pride to as "fair a portion of this Amer ican continent as the sun shines upon. Its abundant resources of wealth and of climate." In almost the same sentence he comes plead ing to the God-fearing, llberty-lovlng people of the North for their assistance. Strange to me they should need this help. In full pos session of BO many of Nature's resources. Having a lineage to the proud Anglo-Saxon race, having In full possession both state and municipal tax. why utter a pitying cry for help? I quite agree with "G." on the ex isting Ignorant condition of the so-called "poor white trash" of the South, when but iwo flfths of that population can read or write. And why is It true? Because they are a lazy, thriftless claes, studying nothing but how to keep the negro, down, howling against social equality and who happiest hour Is when a member of a mob bent upon lynching and burning a negro. The Secession Spirit. Many there are like Mr. Goodrich who, , after wandering far from ths South, that tell tales of broken-down barriers of distrust ex isting between North and South. True It Is of some people la some sections, but in hundreds The : Reed-French Piano Manufacturing Co. : "Will ii ra the rpmnd(lpil Pnmmnn. wealth building, on corner Sixth and curnsiae sirtets as a depot ana salesroom for their Western piano trade. This company employs no travel ing salesmen, it has no agencies in Interior towns it does business dl- rectly with the people, either by mail or by personal calls at Its 9 wholesale warerooma. Sixth, and) a Burnslde etreqta. The plan Is new to the- people of the Northwest, but H will meet withj success, for it goes at the bottom of things it cuts out all retail extrav- agances and saves the buyer blj a money. Wrtte us. We will mall catalogue, prices, terms any Information you want; or. if you say the word, we'll send the instrument the purchase, of which, rests entirely with you; if it looks and sounds as fine as we've! talked about it, pay us 120 for a, starter and we'll fix the balance ta suit you. SOME 1906-7 PIANO STYLES A modern and thoroughly up-to-date, fallr smarsuateed Piano may be paid (or In 20 months $237? A beautiful lnatrnment, excel lent tone) Trould retail (or K4O0 pay ns within two Trnn ............. $263 another one no piano finer no words too extravagant In praise of this moat excel lent Instrument two years' time ., . ,. - ?310 Corns In, write or phone Main 1251. Reed-French Piano Manufacturing Co. Sixth and Burnslde Streets of others, in some of which I have lived, the, firs of secession burns as brightly today as In. '01: where it Is almost worth a man's llf to be seen In publto with fclue clothes on. es pecially If he has brass buttons upon them ; where X have heard local politicians proclaim from the rostrum that ths South was con auered. but not subdued, and that some day the sleeping Uon would emerge from his lair mors ferocious than ever before. I quits agres with the gentleman that It was one of ths great mistakes of ths North when It enfranchised ths freedmen when It did: but whUs that be true, all will admit that that Is ths only grave mistake that the grand old "Republican party has ever made. My solution for ths whols would bars been to keep the right of suffrage from both black, and white alike, and send missionaries down there to educate all, until by now all would have known bow to exercise Intelligently tha right of franchise. 'WILT. A- DL'NCAT East Side Man a Living Storage Battery Alfred Pletiold Boasts of Peculiar Affliction His) Disease JVot Down on Physlclnns List. 70S East ' Thirteenth street, ta af flicted with a serious malady which Isj causing him endless trouble and. accord-, ing to his statement, is puzzling all the doctors to whom he haa applied. AK though ordinarily normal and healthy, Mr. Fletzold has occasional attacks of the strange malady. At such times hi Imagines that a large, blue ball strikes the back of his neck, his vision growl, dim, turning all objects) to mere gray shadows, and ho experiences a sensation; as though ha were charged with electric lty. What Is stranger still is, that any on touching him during one o these spells receives a strong shock, as from elec-i trlcity. At least that is what Mr. Plet sold confides to his friends and although), generally not talkative, ho takes grea pride in his peculiar affliction, of which, he is positive he has the only case in, existence. Horses Afraid of Their Own Reflection Team Headed for a Large window Sera Its Imasre and Stops in Time to Save the Ulans. SEEING their reflection In an im mense plate-glass window caused two runaway horses to turn abruptly yesterday afternoon and fall helpless on the sidewalk with the tongue of the wagon within an Inch of the glass It self toward which the team had dashed headlong a second before. The horses belonged to the American Delivery Com pany, and. drlverless, started to run on Seventh street." Turning the corner Into Washington street, the animals increased their speed, but 4nstead of crashing into the show window of F. Dresser & Company's gro cery store, as every witness expected, the horses ahled at their own shadows and saved the expensive plate-glass and themselves besides. The horses escaped any serious Injury, although the wagon was thrown nearly on top of them, and for half a minute it looked as though both animals had been killed by their sudden contact with the pavement. Tho damage to the vehicle and Its contents was only nominal. Mllwaukle Country Club. Eaetern and Seattle races. . Take Sell wood or Oregon City car, starting from First and Alder streets.