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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1910)
THE 3IORNIKG OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1910. HITCHCOCK PLAINT IS HUGE FIASCO Nebraska Representative's Report Against Ballinger Falls Flat as Pancake. RUMOR ONLY; PROOF NONE WVccnsatlon That Secretary. When Commissioner, Made Room for Nephew, Refuted by Inquiry. Censure Due Accuser. OREOOMAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Feb. 2. If the committee on expenditures in the Interior Depart fcment. which has been investigating the ("Charges made by Hitchcock of Ne braska against the administration of Jhe General Land Office, fails to bring In a report to the House of Representa tives roundly consuring Hitchcock for :his recklessness as well as for his fail lure to make good his accusations, it '"will fall short of its duty to the House nd to the Administration. Of all fiascos witnessed la Washing ton In recent years, this Hitchcock 'incident Is absolutely the worst. Though given every opportunity to make good the charges he set forth In a speech in the House of Repre sentatives, Hitchcock has failed to tack up or to prove a single assertion, Tr rather Insinuation made against the officials of the Land Office. The committee has given him every opportunity to produce his evidence, but not once has he come forward with proof, relying always upon the tleclaratlon that the charges he made were based on information that came to him In the shape of rumors. He was not even willing to name his nonymous Informants. Biggest Charge Unfounded. Perhaps the most sensational accu sations made by Hitchcock was to the effect that when Judge Ballinger be came Commissioner of the General Land Office In 1907 "he made room for his nephew, young Jack Ballinger, an attorney, by demoting Judge Wright, one of the law clerks and reducing his salary from $2000 a year to 1400 a year, so that the $2000 salary could be given to Jack- Ballinger, not under the title of law clerk, but under the title credited by Mr. Balllnger's order of confidential clerk." The committee, after investigation, showed the charge was absolutely without foundation, in so far as it al leged any impropriety of action; utterly Incorrect in point of fact, and purely malicious In its purpose. But the evi dence before the committee speaks for itself. Land Commissioner Dennett heard the charge, and was asked to explain in the presence of Hitchcock. "That statement." said Commissioner Dennett, "Is about as accurate as most of the statements submitted to you gentlemen for your serious consider ation. The records show that John Ballinger was appointed March 2, 1907, for SO days, upon an executive order, to a position at $1800 per an num, vice C. T. Yoder. promoted. Bal linger to act as confidential secretary to the Commissioner. Man TMscharged Replaced. "On April 30. 1907. John Ballinger was made principal examiner of land claims and contests at a salary of $2000 a year, to succeed an examiner who was removed from office. This examiner was dismissed because he was one of the men In the office who took bribes from Hyde and Benson, as he so testi fied and admitted in the Benson cases that were tried before the District Court here. JIc was one of the Gov ernment witnesses and was not prose cuted, though dismissed. However, he liad been kept in the office for quite a time after his confession concerning what he had done, but when Judge Ballinger came there this case was mentioned and he took it up with me and decided that he would not keep any man in the office who had con fessed to accepting bribes, so this ex aminer was dismissed. Young Ballin ger was appointed to the vacancy, and received the same salary the dismissed man received." Commissioner Dennett went on to explain that there was at that time no position of "confidential secretary" or "private secretary" to the Commis sioner of the Land Office, and that Judge Ballinger. upon accepting the t'ommissionership. had a promise from the President that he could appoint Ills own private secretary and have Jiim brought Into the office under Ex ecutive order. C. E. WILL ASEMBLE SOON Two Thousand Delegates- to Attend Convention Here This Month. More than 2000 delegates are ex pected to attend the annual state con vention of the Young People's Christian Kndeavor Society in Portland Febru ary 15-17. in the largest assembly of the organization ever held in Oregon. All the sessions will be held in the First Presbyterian Church at Twelfth and Alder streets. The first meeting will be held the morning of February 35, and the last will assemble the even ing of February 17. A reception and banquet will be held at the Y. M. C. A. Monday evening. A rei-cption committee has been ap pointed by the local Christian Endeavor I'nion to entertain the visiting dele gates. Reception booths will be placed it all of the depots and plans are be ing made to give the visitors a sight seeing trip in automobiles. Among those who will attend the convention are Dr. F. E. Clark, world's president of the society, and William K. Shaw, world's secretary, both from Boston. lr. J. W. MiMii heal will be in charge of the music. The Y. M. C. A. quartet will sing and a special hymnal will be issued for the meetings. Professor E. A. King, P. D., author and co-educator of religious works with F. B. Meyer, will conduct a conference on "Ways and Means." Professor Meyer is a noted organizer of the Purity League. Addresses will be delivered by Dr. Dyott. of the First Congregational Church: Dr. Koulkes. of the First Pres byterian Church, and Dr. Reagor. of the First Christian Church; Rev. Charles T. Hurd. the state president of the Y. P. S. C. E., will also address the assembly. Albany Suffers Cold Snap. . ALBANY. Or., Feb. 2. (Special.) The coldest weather In this part of the state for. several weeks was experienced last night. The Government thermometer at Albany registered 20 decrees above zero ---irsr Ilia nbiht. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO WITHSTANDS ALL ATTACKS, AND NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN WHOSE CHARGES ARE FROVTNG BASELESS. . ft " - - 1 - t"- , f V H v v .rwv' - B. A. BALLINGER, SECRETARY OF INTERIOR. f COUNSEL TO APPEAR Secretary Ballinger Yields to Pressure. COMMITTEE SEEKING LIGHT Cross-Examination of Glavis Called "Feeble" hy Senator Nelson. Same Lawyer, X'amc Xot Di vulged, to Represent Dennett. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. Secretary Bal linger, after much persuasion, has de cided to employ couru?el to appear before the Rallingw-Pinchot investigating com mittee to defend his side of the case. Mr. Ballinger thus far had refused to engage counsel, declaring that he had nothing to conceal. Senator Nelson, chairman of the com mittee, expressed the attitude of the committee as favoring the presence of counsel for both pidee, wherefore Mr. Ballinger finally decided to follow the suggestion. Lawyer Is Unpaged. The attorney employed by Mr. Ballinger also will represent Fred Dennett, Com missioner of the Land Office, and H. H. Schwartz, chief of the field service. Al though his name has not been divulged, the attorney Is said to be a Western lawyer and thoroughly familiar with the land situation as it enters into the pres ent controversy. A telegram was sent him today asking whether he would come to Washington. He replied that he would start at once. At the close of the investigating com mittee's session Monday afternoon. Sen ator Nelson said the cross-examination of Louis R. Glavis had proceeded "fee bly" because of the lack of counsel. As a matter of fact, the cross-examination consisted largely of questions asked by the Democratic members of the committee and designed to accen tuate the political phases of the testi mony Glavis had previously given. Glavis and those Interested with him are represented before the committee by three lawyers who have spent sev eral weeks preparing for the hearing, and who know the history of the case by heart. Committee in Darkness. Few members of the investigating committee have shown any familiarity with the records whatever, and Sena tor Nelson himself referred to the sit uation as "unfortunate." The subject, it was said, was brought to the attention of Attorney-General Wlckersham to see if some representa tive of the Department of Justice might not act as counsel for the Government departments which are under investi gation. It was pointed out that the only way the committee could get at the facts was to have the case pre pjnted in orderly fashion from both sides, and that it was unfair to the committee to place upon them the entire burden of cross-examination to test the credibility of the witnesses. Mr. Glavis, who has asked to be re lieved from further attendance as soon as possible, in order that he may re turn West, will not be excused until the attorney representing the "other side" has had an opportunity to cross-examine him. OPTION ELECTION IS TO GO Call of Xei Perce County to Vote on Saloons Sustained. LEWISTON, Idaho. Feb. 2. (Special.) The action of the Board of County Com missioners In calling a local option elec tion in Nez Perce County, for March 9, was sustained in a decision handed down by District Judge E. C. Steele. - In reviewing the contention of the ap pellants. Judge Steele held that the at tack upon the form of petition and the manner in which the affidavit was made relative to the signers being qualified electors, was of a technical character and could not render the petition ineffective. He said no showing bad been made to the effect the petitions did not contain the. required 40 per cent of the voters represented by the vote for Scrtary of State at the last general election. The contention of tlie appellants relative to the Lewiston special charter protecting the city- from- the county local option election, was held by Judge Steele to be a matter to be taken up by the Courtis by iiiiuxvction proceedings axtcr aa - effort : ,f i'jl . j - J 's T Representative G. At. Hitchcock. I i was made to close the Lewiston saloons by reason of a local option held in tho county. He held this matter could not be considered by the Commissioners. W. A. CUSICK COMMENTS CPON TVTSDOM OF ASSEMBLY. Primary Law Scored as "Fraud" and "Duplicity" Natural for Minority to Protest. SALEM, Feb. 2. (To the Editor.) The profession of alarm by our Demo cratic brethren over the declared Inten tion of the Republicans to hold an as sembly to suggest men of brains and integrity as standard-bearers at . the state election is quite characteristic, and would be amusing except for Its contemptible hypocrisy. They did the same thing, at the first opportunity offered, after the enactment of the primary law, and their right to do so was unquestioned, but their vir tuous indignation and remonstrances know no limit when the Republicans propose to do likewise. If it Is now equivalent to a declaration that they, the people, "hadn't sense enough to make nominations," was not the Demo cratic like performance equally so? If it is a wicked violation of law now, was it not equally, so then? Such duplicitj- is unworthy of self respecting citizens, and will fail of its purpose of deceiving voters. If the Re publicans in the various counties and precincts send their representatives to gether for counsel and to perform for them certain duties, are the people de prived of a voice in the premises? Then, when their acts, as a representa tive assembly of the people, come up at a following election 1b it not up t tne people to indorse or repudiate the acts of their agents by their votes? It certainly seems that Instead of the people being insulted and foully robbed of their rights, that they are having the whole proposition in their own hands. An Individual who would avail him self of bis rights under the law, and profit thereby, and then try to deprive his neighbor pf equal right, on pre tended "principle," would Justly Incur the condemnation and contempt "of self respecting citizens. The writer Is not one of the type of complacent Repub licans who believe the primary law "has come to stay" (without material amendment). Its original purpose was to destroy and render Impossible the malntalnance of party organizations. Now, as a matter of '-fact, every gov ernment worthy of the name depends for its life and progress as a state or nation-on the application and utili zation of certain important principles which will most certainly contribute to the welfare and happiness of Its citi zens. As no two, even the most In telligent persons, ever agree absolutely, never have and never will, we must necessarily see that our divergency of views as to the applicability of the principles and policies in the conduct of government parties will certainly arise. It Is in accordance with Immutable law. and I think it is not extravagant to declare that the successful conduct of our government, state or National, in accordance with the letter and spirit of our primary law is an impossibility, and the said law is therefore destruc tively revolutionary, and in conse quence will have to be amended. One of the basic principles of our Govern ment since its inception stands for ma jority rule the primary law, as it is practiced and construed, stands, with out exception, tor minority rule. It will be remembered that ante cedant to the enatmnnr of Lais law. There never was a time in the history of this country when a man could get a home of his own as easily as at the present mo ment. . It is true that everything we eat and wear is high, but the demand for labor In all walks of life at a high wage was never so great as now. And as a rule the prices of building sites have not kept pace with other advances. At least that is true of Irvington Park, one of the finest residence localities around Portland. Our $450 lots are surrounded by fine homes, and the advance in prices during the coming few years of one or two lots would be a small fortune. The time to get a home ls when you- can get it, when "times are good," as at present. Then when a reaction sets in you will be free of that greatest ex pense rent. Call and let us show you the finest residence 'lots on the market at the price . equal to many you pass five min utes closer on the same carllne, same fare, which are held at three, four and five times our price. F. B. Holbrook Co., 1 Worcester building. Phone Main 5396 or A 7607. IT and at every election since, the very atmosphere has been resonant with the cry of the "choice of the people" and the "voice' of the dear people was more sacred than that of angels (until after election). Now, as a common sense proposition, under this law, if the people want to nominate a candi date, he should come out of the con test with more than half the votes cast if he have less, the people have declared they don't want him, by cast ing a majority of their votes for other candidates, and. as a consequence, you are presented with a minority (e.ven though he have a plurality) candidate as the nominee, and the revolutionary principle of minority rule is evolved out of this "now you see and now you don't" primary law, which some persons tell us "has come to stay." The imprac tibillty of the primary law Is such that on strict commonsense construc tion it could easily happen that no one candidate would have a majority of all the votes cast, and consequently no nomination would be .made and the state or Nation would be without ot ficlal heads, and, I submit, any other construction or - interpretation means minority rule. There are 'many indictments ctandlng against this law of fraud and duplicity. Except for It. a Jonathan Bourne, mis representing Oregon in the United States Senate would be an imposslblity ; except for it, the Democratic minority with cer tain scheming Republicans (?) aided by certain other Statement No. 1 Republi can (?) weaklings George E. Chamber lain (member of 'the minority party) would not be in the United States Senate today. Except for the standing invitation of thi9 law for political dishonesty some thousands of Democrats could not have stultified themselves at the primaries In Portland and elsewhere In this state, to defeat the principle of majority rule, and Mr. Chamberlain's election would have been doubly impossible. It is a standing bid for cheap politicians and moneyed demagogues (who could get recognition in no other way) to rush to the front and secure nominations by petition, who. If elected, will degrade and debauch the public service. No one believes for a moment that there would be any protest from Demo cratic sources if that party ere- In the majority, but having worked this medley of false pretense. In two elections with some degree of success, and being Justly dubious of their- past party record, they would like to try it again. Socialists, of course, protest from an Inherent quality of mind and a fixed, In curable habit. It Is reported that a few members of tlie grange are distressed at the thought of Republicans meeting in an asBemblj-, to discuss and promote views and prin ciples relating to the public welfare, yet they seem to see no Inconsistency in them selves1 holding similar meetings' for pur poses of protesting. One" finds himself wondering if the Republicans are wrong, in holding assembly meetings for the pro mulgation of their views wherein have the granges a right to hold like meetings for purposes of protest against the same Identical views. Protests from Republlqan (?) turncoats, are always expected. It gives them an air of political purity, and discrimina tion, and consequently a better oppor tunity to realize on their political as sets. W. A. CUSICK. BUTTE BACKS SALT LAKE MONTANA SPORTS, 50O0 STRONG, WANT BIGHT IN UTAH. Movement on Foot Among Fans to Attend Jeff-Johnson Battle If Mormon City Wins. BUTTE. Mont., Feb. 2. The Jeffries Johnson world's championship ring bat tle will be held in Salt Lake on July 4, next, if the plans and hopes of 5000 fight fans right here in Butte come true. A movement was started last night by promirrtent sport-lovers, with Billy Gemmel at their head, backed up by all the well-known sport-loving citi zens of the town, to form a "fight for Salt Lake" club, which shall-' be 6000 strong in Butte and which may be swelled to twice that number by citi zens of other Montana cities, who will no doubt Join in the glad rush to the Mormon city on special train. The whole town Is talking about It and many petitions are being circu lated, as follows: "We, the undersigned, promise to be come members of a delegation of 5000 Butte fight fans which will attend the I Jeffries-Johnson world ' championship battle on next July 4, if it is held in Salt Lake. We also give our word to use all our efforts and to enlist our friends in the movement to encourage the promotion of the fight in the Mor mon city." . TheHome Toll & Qibbs, Hoc. Furnished Complete Morrison at Seventh Housefurnishings Sold on Easy Terms BreaKfast Now Served in the Wistaria Tea Room, Commencing at 8-.30 Portland Agents for "Modart," "Lily of France" and "Madaleine" Corsets Especially Afrfaraictdve Haurgalir&s io Waists A Cleaiini-TUip of Oddl JLots A varied and interesting collection of Waists go to make up this special sale. Included are Lingerie Waists of mull, batiste and Persian lawns, daintily trimmed and embroidered, with the high and Dutch necks. Also hand-embroidered Lingerie Waists -with embroidered linen collars. Also included in this collection are the Tailored Waists, hand-embroidered and in white and colors. Some are the perfectly simple, pleated shirt styles, with white and em broidered collars and cuffs. There should be no hesitancy on the part of those who need a new Shirtwaist in taking advantage of this clean-up the values and assortment are right for your choosing. Lingerie Waists Grouped in the Sale as Follows: 88c S 1 .SB $1.25, $1.35, $1.50 and $1.75 Waists. $2.95, $3.50 and $3.95 Waists .S8 $1.95, $2.25 and $2.50 Waists $4.95, $5.50 and $5.95 Waists Tailored Waists Show These Interesting Reductions: $3.95 and $4.95 $3.33 $5 00 and $5.50 $4.33 W W w m j . . V WW Vk7 . ........ (S.SS, $7.SO and 37.SS Waists S.3B Women's One-piece SilK Dresses Values from $18.50 to $37.50 at $15.00 Misses' Regular $19.50 Colored Net Dresses at $15.00 Today Tines e Bair Haios io Aloiroioiuunni Coolkiog lit em si lis The "Wagner" make very highest grade cast Aluminumware. Basting Spoons, 12-inch size, 40c values, at, each 30 Handled Cake Griddles, No. 8 . size, $2.10 values, at, each.... $1.70 Spiders, in two sizes No. 8 and No. 9 : $2.15 values, at, each SI. 75 $2.50 values, at, each $1.95 Handled Sauce Pans 2-qt. size, $2.25 val ues, at, each SI. 80 The 4-qt. size, $2.75 values, at, each. .$2.25 Lipped Kettles in two sizes 2-qt. and 4-qt. : $2.40 values, at, each. S1()0 $2.95 values, at, each $2.35 BASEMENT DEPARTMENT A Special Sal of Ceoter Talbles Eighteen patterns in our line of Cen ter Tables, in the golden oak and. mahogany finish, will show unusual reductions in a sale commencing to day. "We've priced them lower with the intention of closing but a number of designs to make room for new ones soon to arrive.. These are some of the values: $6.00 Table, in golden oak and mahoganv finish, for .$3.95 $6.75 Table, in mahogany finish, for $4.75 $5.50 Table, in mahogany finish, for S-4.25 $8J5 Table, in golden oak, for $5.35 $10.50 Table, in golden oak, for. . ; . .$8.25 $11.50 Table, in golden oak, for $7.15 $15.00 Table, in golden oak, for $9.25 $14.00 Table, in golden oak, for. . . . .$8.25 -$28.00 Table, in golden oak, for. . . $16.75 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR RANGE-BUYING OFFER THIRTY DAYS' FREE TRIAL AND THE TERMS $5 DOWN AND $5 A MONTH CREDIT MEN PURSUE Reshipping Swindler Will Be Prosecuted Again. tional Bank of La Grande, and will be tried in this city as soon as the trial of Blnger Hermann is completed. early today. The crew took to their boat and readied New York without accident. . - CUSHMAN'S NAME IS TAKEN BLANCHARD SETTLES CASE PORTLAND LOSES $4000 Goods Bought for Alleged Tse in la Grande, Or., on Banker's Rec ommendation Forwarded to Colorado for Sale. SEATTLiE. Feb. 2. Sam D. Gray, alias Carl Ryder, alleged by the Na tional Creditmen's Association to be the most dangerous mercantile swindler In the country, was arrested on his release after servlniar a term in the Buena Vista, Cal., reformatory, and ar rived here last night In custody. He had been pursued from Porto Rico to China and back by the association. In 1908, Ryder reached Seattle and Portland with a letter of introduction to the wholesalers of both cities, writ ten by J. W. Schrlber, a banker of La Grande. Or. This letter, when con firmed, enabled him to obtain valuable goods in the two cities. These he caused to be shipped by express to La Grande. The letter from the banker said that Ryder had Invested 3000 In that city and would open a store there on receiving the goods at La Grande from Portland and Seattle, he repacked the two consignments, it is charged, and shipped them to Colorado, where they were sold. Six Seattle Arms will prosecute Gray. ' Gray's operations in the past ten vears are alleged to have brought him 1100,000. Ballinger Would Aid Insane. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. The draft of a bill appropriating $75,000 for the purchase of land and the erection of buildings for the care of the insane in Alaska was submitted to the House to day by Secretary Ballinger. PORTLAND MERCHANTS GLAD Banker, AYlio Recommended Gray, to Be Tried After Hermann. Sam D. Gray operated in Portland under the name of Carl Ryder, and is remembered by merchants in this city who were swindled. The news of his arrest will be welcomed by a score of wholesale dealers in this city who were victims in varying amounts from $100 to $1000. It Is believed that $4000 will cover , the aggregate of loss sustained by Portland merchants through Ryder's false representations. Ryder pre tended to open a furnishing store In La Grande and bought clothing, shoes, hats and other articles of male attire from the local dealers. J. W. Scriber, a banker, from whom Ryder brought & letter of introduc tion, is under Indictment by the Fed eral grand Jury for forgery and other charges in connection with the wreck ing of the Farmers" and Traders Na- Puyallup Indian Scliol Christened After Late Representative. WASHINGTON. Feb. 2. Honoring the memory of the late Representative Cushman, of Washington, Secretary Ballinger has approved the recom mendation of the Commissioner of In dian Affairs that the name of the Puy allup Indian School at Tacoma, Wash., be changed to the iushman Indian School. Mr. Cushman took a deep interest in building the school. Schooner Sinks. Crew Saved. BOOTH BAY HARBOR. Maine. Feb. 2. The three-masted schooner J. Henry Edmunds, of this port, was sunk by a tow of barges off Sandy Hook, N. J.. President Penrose Gets Word From Football Coach. WALLA WALLA. Wash., Feb. S. (Special.) Dr. S. B. L. Penrose, Whit man's president, announced today that he had received letters from J. Merrill Blanchard, football coach, who was taken back to Htllsboro, N. I., to "face a statutory charge, in which Mr. Blanchard stated that he had settled the matter In a satisfactory manner. Other than making this statement. President Penrose declined to talk fur ther in regard to the matter. Local authorities have heard nothing concerning, the case since Blanchard left here. It is understood, however, that the athletic leader will leave Hills boro and arrive in Walla Walla soon. BOOSTER MEETING GOLDENDALE FEBRUARY lOth For this occasion low round trip rates will be in effect Feb. 9 and 10 from Portland and points east to Roosevelt, return limit Feb. 13. Round trip from Portland $5.10. VIA Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. 'THE NORTH BANK ROAD." Representatives of the commercial bodies, the press and railroad companies will attend, leaving Portland at 9 A. M. Thursday, Feb. 10, returning to Portland at noon Friday. Join this party and meet the representative men of Klickitat County, a rapidly growing section in Portland's territory. Passenger Station, 11th and Hoyt St. i