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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1912)
THE MORIG OKEGOXIAX. WEDNESDAT, JULY 31, OFFICERS DISOBEY TO SPARE Maus' Order Imposition, They Say General Said to Have Broken Military Rule. COURT MARTIAL FORECAST Many Officers Condemn Mutineers for Disobedience, but Members or Spanish War Veterans Will Fight Prosecution. Court-martial cancellation of their commissions and probably dishonor- able dismissal from the service con front five officers of the Second Bat talion. Third Infantry. Oregon Nation al Guard, for their mutinous conduct at Gate. Wash.. Sunday in refusing promptly to respond to the command of Brigadier-General Maui and retreat with their men to Oakvllle. seven miles distant. Although refusing to be quoted, mill tarr authorities were unanimous yes terdav in declaring that the five officers by their rebellious act laid themselves liable to court-martial on the cnarges of wilful disobedience, of orders from a superior officer and of general In subordination. Four Live in Portland. The officers, who were placed under arrest pending official disposition of tha charaes that will be prelerrea. are Major Ryland O. Scott, in command of the Battalion; Lieutenant Barry . Brumbaugh, in charge of Company E. in the absence of Captain George H. Schumaker: Captain Harry E. Williams, of Company F.: Captain Walter L. Tooze. Jr.. of Company G.: and Lieu tenant Richard Deich, In charge of Company H. in the absence of Captain Lester K. Kollock. With the exception of Captain Tooze, who resides at Dallas, the officers live in Portland. General Maus has made a detailed report of the circumstances to the War Department and the court-martial. If It is ordered, will be directed by the Department through Governor West, as Commander-in-chief, and Adjutant-General Finzer. of the Oregon National Guard. It Is understood that General Maus personally will prefer and press the charges of disobedience of orders. Just what action General Maus will take concerning the personal affronts alleged to have been given him by Cap tain Tooze and Lieutenant Deich, is not Indicated at present. The General re ported having been grossly insulted by these officers, when he sought to re monstrate with, them and reprimand them for their refusal to obey orders. Should he press the matter an addi tional charge of Insubordination or con duct unbecoming an officer could be brought. It is said. Flinr ot Present. "From the performance of the Ore gon troops that I witnessed," said Adjutant-General Finzer yesterday, "they made an exceptional showing 'and ac quitted themselves with extraordinary credit, considering their experience. They executed, without, hesitation or parley, every order that was issued either day or night. "I left the'scene-of operations Sun day morning, shortly before the trouble occurred. - -For this reason I do not wish, to make any comment on the matter until I have learned the facts." , "The whole affair seems to have re sulted from a misunderstanding by General Maus of the actual conditions," volunteered Lieutenant Deich. "In the first place it. would be unmilitary for me to say anything at this time, and, besides, I do not know what charges, if any, will be preferred. I have noth ing more to say." If a court-martial is ordered against the refractory officers, it will be re sisted by the members of Scout Young Camp. United Spanish War Veterans, of , this city. This organization, at a spe cial meeting yesterday, appointed a committee of five with Instructions to oppose vigorously any charge of un military conduct that may be brought against the officers of the Third Ore gon by General Maus or any other military authority. Captain Williams and Lieutenant Deich both served in the Spanish American War and are members of Scout Toung Camp. In addition to his experience with the Second Oregon in the Philippines and the Oregon Na tional Guard. Lieutenant Deich served a term in the regular Army. Having started from Gate with the other officers of his command on the 90-mlle horseback ride required an nually of regular Army officers. Gen eral Maus could not be reached yes terday for a statement as to the con ditions attending the disobedience of orders by the National Guard officers. "Orders la Ordcra," Say Some. Military officers here have a delicacy In discussing the Incident because of the officers involved, but they have no hesitancy In saying that a serious breach of military discipline was com mitted. They were Just as frank in saying that disregard of orders from a superior officer cannot be condoned by mitigating circumstances, which, it is expected, will be pleaded in defense of the officers under fire. "Orders Is orders" In military operations and ex cuses have no place in the military 'code. This was the substance of the comment of a man for many years at tached to the regular Army. "It was simply a case of the officers assuming the full responsibility for the situation out of consideration for the enlisted men. who were not physically able to comply with the order to re treat." said one of the arrested officers, who would not permit bis name to be used. "The men were exhausted and felt that the order to march back to Oakvilie was an imposition." The act of insubordination came on the eve of the end of the maneuvers, following two days of exacting service by the Oregon troops. It was a re grettable Incident, say other National Guard officers. In view of the enviable reputation the men from this state had earned during the operations. Statement Is Made. The following statement of the events leading up to Sunday's mutiny was made by one of the officers, with the understanding that his name would be withheld: "The Bed army to which the Oregon troops were attached had borne the brunt of the fighting. In the same length of time that the Blue army moved from Centralla to Gate, the op posing forces had moved from Monte sano to Gate, more than twice the dis tance and over a much more difficult country. ..., , "Leaving their camp at S:SO o clock Saturday morning, the Oregon troops were in 'action continuously until 4 o'clock that afternoon, when they re turned to camp. In that length of time, they were obliged to ford Black River four times, scale through mountain sides, work their way through under brush, at times being forced to crawl on their hands and knees for several rods driving the enemy before them. The following day. 6unday. the Ore gon troops broke camp at an early hour and moved from Oakvllle below the point near Gate to which they Bad ad vanced the day before. Finding the Blues had continued their retreat be yond fiate to a rjoint near Rochester, our men with the Red army executed a flank movement, which took us con siderably beyond Gate, and put the Blues to rout. "We then returned to Gate, where we arrived about 10 o'clock and from which point it was understood we were to en train. According to a speedometer car rled by Lieutenant Brumbaugh, we cov ered 12V. miles Sunday morning. Short ly after arriving at Gate the order to retreat to the camp we had left in the morning at Oakdale, five miles away, was reecived. "Realizing the condition of our men, we sent word to General Maus agree ing to take the march if he would pro vide transportation for our equipment. For some reason or other, we heard nothing from our request. When the order to march was given, we refused to move. The men in command of each company were then relieved and the First Lieutenants were ordered to take command. .They and the sergeants in turn likewise declined to assume the command. - "It was then that the other two bat tallons began the march. When they had gone, we employed a conveyance at our own expense into which our blanket rolls, haversacks and other equipment were loaded and followed the other battalions to Oakvllle, where we arrived at 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon, a great majority of the men in each comDanv belm? physically exnausiea. Between Gate and Oakvilie we passed at least 40 men who had dropped out of the ranks of the preceding battalions and were lying alongside the roaa. Mans Insults Officers, Says One. "After reaching Oakvilie, General Maus severely reprimanded the five of ficers in the presence of the enlisted men. This in itself was not only an Infraction of military rules, but his language was so offensive that two of tie officers openly protested against what we considered undeserved abuse. "In view of the fact that originally it was Intended for us to entrain at Gate and the further fact that our operations Sunday morning concluded the maneu vers, neither we officers nor the men in our command could see the neces sity for' the order to make a furtfler march of five miles to the rear, espe cially when the fatigued and exhausted condition of the men in the ranks was considered. These were the reasons for our disregard of the order." This explanation, which Is said to reflect the defense offered by all of the Insubordinate officers, is not ac cepted with very much enthusiasm by the other officers of the regiment. General condemnation of the dis obedient commanders was heard on many sides among officers of the Third Oregon. "The first principle of soldiering is to obey orders and those who cannot meet all the requirements of a man euver campaign, which is nothing com pared with real war, should get out." This was the statement made by Lieutenant-Colonel John L. May, sec ond In command, as he drew the regi ment up in the Armory and addressed officers and men. "In all the years that the Oregon regiment has been in the service I have never had any occasion to feel otherwise than proud of it," he added. "It has generally been made up of real men, ready to do their full duty, even 1( obedience of orders brought death itself. If there are any here now who cannot meet the grim rules of the game then for Heaven's sake get out. We want only red-blooded, vigorous men in the Third regiment. There is no place for any other kind." Three hearty cheers sealed approval to Lieutenant-Colonel May's words, the mutinous Second battalion alone fail ing to Join in the cheers. Summary Action Urged. The honor of the regiment can be redeemed only by the most summary action in this matter," said an officer, who has seen many years' service with the Oregon National Guard. "It over whelms me that such - an incident could occur. That the proud record of 15 years should be besmirched by a few ill-advised buttalion officers Is a calamity that It will take many years for the old Third to survive. It win not be that one battalion, but the whole regiment which will have to suffer. The entire service will hold this thing against us. The explanation cirerea at camp oy the offenders is regarded as ridiculous amone the bulk of the officers. A sol dier who does not obey orders so long as he is able to move is not a soldier either by temperament or training and hasn't any business In the service, sucn a disgraceful scene as was enacted at Gate on Sunday may be in place among Mexican rebels or troops of that sort, but it certainly Is something new in any branch of the United States serv ice. The offending officers know the dis approval that their acts have brought upon them. They Know, or snouia know by this time, that their fellow officers are against 'them in this mat ter to the man. There is not an of ficer to my knowledge hut believes that the offenders should be punished vigor ously and to the limit. That will help clean the slate. And Just how such a climax can be avoided is hard to see, unless National Guard politics are brought into play." Another phase of the difficulty pre sented by officers is that a state of lax regimental discipline has existed for some time because of poor organi zation. Colonel Poorman Is blamed in tnany quarters for forcing himself into the colonelcy ot tne regiment several months asto. Although having seen long and faithful service, and bearing the general good will up to the time he set out to become colonel, his capacity for command of the Third was gener ally questioned. It Is urged that a strong colonel would have whipped the Second battalion into line and saved the officers and men from tneir own folly. PROTEST Tq BE FILED SOON Grievance Committee Would Show General Mans Officions. Rearina- In mind a time during the Spanish-American War when members of the Second Oregon Infantry were ordered to march ten miles to a mili tary camp after having passed through rierra alea-e in Manila, members of the United Spanish War Veterans have planned a Iignt -against oi.j.u.c General Maus. who caused the arrest of officers of the Third Infantry of the Oregon National Guard, at the Wash ington Maneuver camp Sunday, when they led a concerted refusal on the part of Oregon troops to march four miles to a camp alter a uay ui uuuiu.i maneuvering. The arievance committee oi tne war veterans was called together yesterday and will prepare at once a protest to be filed with the War Department against the actions of General Maus. special meeting of Scout Young camp will be called to join in the protest. This action is in behalf of Captain Wil liams and Lieutenant Deich. members of the Scout Young camp, who served with the troops in Manila, and who had the same experience with a high officer there. The greivance committee alleges that General Maus is a "tin soldier." inas much as he has never served in actual warfare and that his action in ordering the Oregon boys to make the four miles' walk was for the purpose of showing his authority. It Is asserted that his order was brutal In its effect. The committee which will handle the pro test against General Maus comprises W. T. Phillips, past department com mander; Harvey Wells and George K. McCord. past camp conductors; J. R. Hulford. commander of Scout Young camp, and Dr. L. W. Hyde. Inspector of the Department of Oregon., BOLT IRKS HEW PARTY CONVENTION Bull Moose Meeting at Helena in Uproar on Question of State Ticket. . BUTTE MEMBERS WALK OUT Dixon Chosen to Head State Delega tion to Chicago, 19 Named as National Committeeman and Indorsed for Re-election. HELENA, Mont., July 30. The first session of the first convention of the new party was marked by a "bolt." Upon the completion of the temporary organization, with George A. Horkan, of Forsyth, as chairman, James A. Met calf of Dawson, offered a resolution declaring the new party organized and renouncing all allegiance to other po- It.lA.l nT,onlDHnnfl The resolution was adopted without dissent. Later, josepn uruien, cnair man of the Silver Bow delegation, asked that the resolution be reconsid ered, saying that conditions were "peculiar" in Silver Bow County and that many of the delegates thought they should work with the Republican party in the primaries. He was ruled out of order. Chairman Horkan remark ing that "a man who hasn't nerve en ough to abide by that resolution doesn't belong in this ponvention." Convention In Uproar. Joseph Volger, another member of the Silver Bow delegation, attempted to speak, but before he could be"gln George B. Dygert. of Silver Bow. shouted to the chair that Volger had announced that he "had quit the delegation." Chairman Horkan ruled that he was not entitled to be heard. "He's talking to a question of per sonal privilege." shouted Griffen. "Is this new party to be born with a gag In its mouth?" Instantly the hall was in an uproar, .vApai HalaMtH filamArinr for rec ognition. Amid the excitement some one moved a recess ana tne motion was carried with a whoop. Seven of the 12 Butte delegates, including Chairman Griffen, did not return sfter the recess. Delegates were present from 27 of v. 1 1 .n..nu. r lhA atHtn Sixteen delegates were elected to the National progressive convention to be held in Chicago August 6, each delegate to have one-fourth of a vote. Senator for Colonel Roosevelt, was the hero of the con vention. Demonstration Given Dixon. a 'tKn.i.rV tint Tiroaant honors' liter ally were heaped upon him. In addi tion to being chosen to bead the state delegation to Chicago, the Montana Senator was named as this state's member of the National committee of the new progressive party and a dec laration in favor of his return to the . n..nlnnaii the lnmeit and loudest demonstration of the conven tion. That it is the purpose oi tne new party to put a complete state ticket in . i ..m hi 1 1 was mad evident when. Just before adjournment, the con vention adopted a resolution instruct ing the state committee, just seieciea, tn mil a nominating: convention to meet within the next 40 days. The resolutions deal with many state and National subjects, including a declaration in favor of women suffrage. The tariff is ignored. The platform declares that the progressive move ment is bigger than any individual, but Instructs the delegates and pledges the party In this state to work for the nomination and election of Colonel Roosevelt. NET AD AN S CHOOSE ELECTORS Rcgnlars Spurred to Action by Prior Move of Progressives. RENO. Nev., July 30. At a second state convention of the Republican party held here today, Thomas Nelson, of Reno, W. W. Booth, of Tonopah, and William M. McGlll, of Ely. were nominated as Republican Presidential electors for the State of Nevada. The nomination of electors wss omit ted at the first convention of the Re- nuhllcans because it was thought tne state primary law required such nomi nations to be made at the September primaries. To make doubly sure, how ever, a second convention was called to supply the omission. -' . The move was turtner prompted oy the action of the progressive party con vention which nominated electors In stead of waittna- for the primaries, thus causing apprehension lest no regular Republican presidential elector oe per mitted on the official ballot In Novem ber. The law concerning the nominations h utill In doubt, and the Supreme Court has been asked to pass upon the interpretation of the new primary law. This latter provision is believed to be inoperative. COTTON BILL REVIVED House Will Reintroduce Measure Vetoed by Taft. wismxcTnu Julv SO. The House ways and means committee has de termined to re-introduce the Demo- .t tariff hill, which was passed at the last session of Congress . 1 1 . .1 n..,. and vetoea oy rrewwcui Alter tne otcwiuu m me " j o .nmrnliiM tn reintroduce the cotton bill, the House agreed to take up toaay tne su-nr biiu v. urn i-a. ill revision bills and the excise tax meas ure as amended by the Senate. There was every prospect last night a sharp fight would be made on the sugar schedule. A number of Senate amend- . r.irarHDil with riiflf&VOr bv uieuva u .B. - certain Democrats, especially, those from tne sugar-pruautiug wo . t loaHor TTndorwnnrf nnept last majumy " ' ,, r -. . . night in "counting noses to determine his strengtn.' T. R. AGAIN SCORES TAFT Colonel Compares Nomination With lorlmer's Election. nvcrs niv N. Y" Julv 30. The renomlnatlon of President Taft by the Republican National convention ii month was compared by Colonel Roose . n .1 n A tha alectlon of William Lorlmer to the United States Senate. The two classes, ne oeciaxeo, nuiau on the same moral plane and Mr. Taft's nomination. In his opinion, can be de fended only on grounds which would v i A,imrra election. Had the JUBUlf ill. " " " " - Chicago convention been organised hon estly, he said, there would have been a majority of over 100 against Mr. Taft. Colonel KOOSeveil S statement waa in reply to the Administration's defense of the proceedings at Chicago, which was issued yesterday at Washington. o SUGAR TRUST FINED "Lax Discipline" Costs Two Big Companies $224,386. OFFICERS ARE EXONERATED Special Prosecutor Says Findings Failed to Show Evidence That Higher Officials Participated In Alleged Frauds. PHii.nrT.PHIA. July 80. The al leged sugar fraud at this port, which was settled yesterday by tne payment of nearly a quarter of a million dollars, has been under investigation since last Summer. Tii terms of the settlement include 111. mvmnt of 1100.000 by the W. J. McCahan Sugar Refining Company and 124,388 by the Franklin Sugar Refin ing Company in settlement of the claims both against itself and the . i n.finlnv rnmnanv. the two Jicinica " . companies having been operated vir tually as one unoer me rauuui ' so-called "trust." t nntitnir thA terms of the set tlement, Henry N. Arnold, special as sistant Unltea etaies Aiiumcj-vreuciai, saw: .. "As indicated oy tne wrmen imu- ....... -."i last Autumn bv the grand Jury which investigated the sub ject of weighing, an eiuuu lnatlon fallea xo snow eviueuco i ju ,k. k.iuf that the officers or di rectors of the sugar companies or the higher oinciais in me ciwiuuw oCt. were participants in the frauds, nor , (h. nv bribery of Government weighers. The fraudB were to be ac counted for largely because discipline was lax, malting 11 possiom mi t -finery employes to getthe better of the Governmcntagents." Gallant Captain of Third Infantry Mourned. Theoretical Memorial Built on Desk of "Slain" soldier by Bereaved Companions. CONSTRUCTIVELY, the entire office In a downtown building was In mourning. News had come from the front, where thi Reds and Blues were maneuvering for the possessfon.of Puget Sound ter j . ' . i. . An. nf thAlr associates, can- tain In the Third Infantry (Reds), was theoretically dead, punctured by two Imaginary bullets from the rifles of the skulking Biues. "We must prepare a suitable theo retical memorial for our theoretically a j mnQTilnn ' aojrtt one of the be reaved friends, when the news reached Portland. , With chests heaving, they proceeded to pay their last sad respects to the de parted comrade, who was now, in theory, twanging on his celestial harp or whatever tne case miguv do. Long streamers of white paper were --,1 .... tha desk of the absent one. . . th.ir m.anlnr mirht be misinter preted, each was plainly marked, "theo retical crape. riwwwi" v' paper were wadded Into a theoretical i . 4 nlir in an emntv Daste pot, plainly marked "theoretical vase" OSED all day today For the first time in 14 years, this store will be closed all day today, preparatory to inaugurating the Biggest Sale in Its History We have purchased the entire stock and - leased the premises of A. B. STEINBACH & CO. And for the purpose of raising money to complete the purchase we will begin a tremendous , MONEY-RAISING SALE TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING LION CLOTHING CO. 166-170 THIRD STREET and further distinguished on the Inside with a card bearing the Inscription "theoretical water." A feather duster, frayed and worn by long service, be came constructively another bouquet ti which a card was attached with the words "(Ar)rest in peace." Beside all this lay a stray queen of hearts, "card of condolence," and upon a file hook on the corner of the desk a card was Im paled marked, "Flag, theoretically at half mast" Th a-allant OaDtain returned from Xhe long campaign and his sojourn in the theoretical happy nunung gruunan. With light step he entered his office and spotted the display built up by the loving hands of his fellows. With a long, low whistle he stopped, inspected the desk and, reverently re moving his hat, tiptoed out of the fu nereal chamber. And ever since his friends have been the recipients of many theoretical thanks from the Captain, for the rever ence shown him in theoretical death. JURY FAILS TO INDICT SKRVAXTS BSCAPB CHARGES OF SAN MATEO BANKER. With Daughter, Nicholas J. McNa mara 'Will Go to New York to Try and Win Back Wife. SAN FKANCISCO, . July 30. The grand Jury refused tonight to find any indictment against Mrs. Caroline Per kins, William Patterson and Patrick Walsh, who were arrested In New York last Friday, charged by Nicholas J. Mc Namara, a retired banker of San Ma teo, Cal., with stealing his automobile. McNamara said tonight that he in tended to leave in a special train to morrow morning for New York, with his daughter, Gladys, In the hope of reaching there before August 8, the date set . for the Perklns-Patterson-Walsh hearing. The three prisoners were servants of the McNamaras at San Mateo, a suburb of San Francisco. They left with Mrs. McNamara in the automobile and were only traced thereafter by the stream of checks drawn by Mrs. McNamara on her bank account .here. McNamara charges that Mrs. Perkins had obtained an influence over his wife which he cannot explain. The first public notice of their estrangement was an advertisement published by Mrs. Mc Namara about two months ago in which she warned whom it might concern that she would not be further responsible for her husband's debts. The grand Jury held tonight that in asmuch as it had been shown that Mc- Manufactured only by JAMES PYLF & SONS- N York , ,-X m B 9 : v 1 Namara gave permission to the party to take the automobile to San Fran cisco, it could not be shown that a theft had been committed by Mrs. Mc Namara's servants, when, acting with her consent, they had continued the trip. McNamara Is much more anxious to win back his wife than to press his charges against the servants, but he fears, that if they are set free, his wife may disappear with Mrs. Perkins a second time. "RED" SOLDIER MAY DIE Guardsman Returning From Maneu vers Injured on Train. Lying unconscious at St. Vincents Hospital in a low condition and hourly expected to die, is George Wheeler, an employe of the C. J. Cook Company and one of Oregon's naval militiamen who attended the maneuvers in the Puget'Sound country. He was seriously Injured by being struck on the head as he leaned out of the window of a train on which he was coming home to Portland. Persons who were with him on the HARD A LUXURY WITHIN -aTO3 5Q AEmiBIPaiFUME y THE REACH v 7m TMF f SWFLCH CO. JOCmJOIW TO 6KTOIELUI IWUIU'IMG a rfThJ THERE is a well known successful Eastern business man who pays an eminent lawyer to call periodically and ask questions about how his business is conducted. Very often a question or a discussion with your banker will act as a suggestion which would favorably affect your business. The officers and directors of this bank are always at your disposal. We pay 4 per cent interest on deposits. atrirlianls jXkticnarSitnli Founded in 1886. Washington and Fourth Streets train do not know exactly how the acci dent happened. The party of guards men were on their way home from the headquarters of the Red army at Gate, Wash., and at a point on the line some what less than 100 miles from Port land. Wheeler put his head out a win dow to look at a sight pointed out by other militiamen. What struck him Is not known. He is suffering from brain concus sion. Dr. C. H. Wheeler is attending him. Examination Dates Set. The United States Civil Service Com mission announces that the following examinations will be held to secure ellglbles and fill vacancies in the dif ferent departments: Entomological as sistant, August 21; laboratory ald In pomology, August 21; plant pathology, August 24; assistant in agricultural technology, August 21. Further infor mation concerning these examinations can be secured from Z. A. Leigh, at the Portland Post Office. Weather In Cuba this past Winter h been most propitious for tobacco growera and from Vuelta Abajo to Mayarl reporta agree that the quality of that crop this year will Be axc-neni. WATEft INSTANTOQ mm ) 1" arm - -