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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1908)
r7r- r Pages! to 12 VOL. XXVII. NO.- 9. PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY 3IORNING, MARCH 1, 1908. PRICE .FIVE CENTS. Hi 60 Pages HARD KNOCKS FOR STATEMENT NO. 1 Virtually Repudiated in Convention. RESOLUTION A COMPROMISE Republican Factions Struggle Throughout Day. STRENGTH NEARLY EQUAL Ilodsoii-Beach Men Finally Wrest Control From Jdlcman Followers and Secure Organization Fire-, works From Start to Finish. FT AM) iK Ml'lT N OMAH REPUB LICANS ON HTATKMENT NO. 1. Be It Krsolved, That we, as Re publicans, are firmly of tha belief that our representatives in the Sen ate and House of Representatives of the State of Oregon BhouM not take a pledge that would require them to anpport a Democrat, Socialist or I'opulifft or the L'utted States Senate from this state, and that the mem bers of tlie legislative assembly be Instructed to vote for the Republi can voterr col e for United States Senator. Aftr a whole day's skirmishing In the itf publican county convention yesterday, and three hours of heavy rhetoric at the finish, the convention virtually repudiated Statement No. 1. Not for four year's has a political convention been hold in Ore gon, and the delegates made up for lost time with their oratory, wrangles and tumult. The even balance was shown by the spectacle of the Jdlcman" Taction . ttcVe organizing the body and the Hod-S'Hi-Beach faction each time wresting: the fruits away. The one camp elected the officers, while the other forced through the anti-Statement 1 resolution. 1'hls resolution came first from S. C. Beach, then was moderated by- George Siapleton, of the same faction, in the form of a substitute, nd anally was accepted by the Idlcnian group, which tacked on the Isst clause, because seeing the futility of further resistance. Griffin Disgusts Followers. Kach camp went to Selting-Hirsch Hall with a programme, a slate and a plat form.' The Idleman men organized the convention by electing M. G. Griffln tem porary chairman over Frank F. Free man, the Hodson-Beach candidate, by a vote of 138 to 107. but Griffln was no sooner in the chair than he disgusted his supporters by dragging in Statement 1' and the direct primary law and giving them a sound walloping and then declar ing himself In favor of an Intelligent po litical machine. As the group that elect ed him was trying to prevent injection of Statement 1 and the Hodson-Bailey forces were striving to bring it up, dismay was written on the faces -on one side and ex ultation on the other. The discomfited camp threw over Griffln when it came to electing the permanent chairman and put at. the helm Ben Selling, who was stiid to oppose rejection of Statement 1. Put this could not check .the anti-Statement forces. Chairman .Selling did not try to hold back the rising tide; he could not have done so had he desired. And when the vote was taken on adoption of the resolution, there were but half a dozen opposing voices. Purpose of Convention. The Idleman camp was headed by the Oounty Central Committee, of which Idle man is chairman. The rival faction was piloted byV. W. Hodson. S. C. Beach, A. A. Psiley and George W. Siapleton. The central committee had called the con vention for the purpose of adopting a platform of party principles, and Chair man Idleman declared' this the sole duty f the assembly, it was well known that the rival faction would make an on uli'ucM on Statement No. 1. This the Central Committee had taken means to oppose by organizing its strength for election of chairman and appointment of committees. " When Griffin jumped - the track there were groans, and Idleman exclaimed: "Now what do you think of that?" and settled " down "in his chair full of ' dis gust. Through the hall, his followers were wondering how the Hodson -Bailey crowd had gotten control of the tempo rary chairman. Platform Is Idleman. Idleman and Beach carried to the con vention the respective platforms of the rival elements. The Idleman platform was adopted. It contains 14 planks, not Including the Beach-Stapleton resolution aa to Statement No. 1. The most signifi cant plank is the fourth, whih calls for the nomination -of candidates for office by the direct vote of the people, indorse ment of the primary law and a pledge for its hearty support. The sixth plank favors the re-enactment by Congress of the employers' liability law, and it rec- i$t M. 4i. OrllTln. Temporary Chair man of Multnomah County Republican Convention. ommends the next Legislature enact an employers' liability law for Oregon. The platform favors enactment of a I law declaring the telephone, telegraph and street railway corporations to be common curriers, and subject to the regu lation and control of the Railway Com mission. A high bridge across the Wii lamette River U urged, , and liberal ap propriation for educational Institutions. The tenth plank favors division of Mult- nomah County into legislative districts and exclusion of Asiatic labor. Convict labor, when it comes into contact with free labor, Is strongly condemned. Favors Direct Election. Plank 12 favors the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the peo ple, and It is recommended that the rep resentatives to Congress be urged to ad vocate an "amendment to the Constitution of the United States. One plank calls for more stringent banking laws and another for improvements of rivers and harbors. While Senator Beach did not get a chance to Introduce, the platform ;hat he had prepared, he did make use of one. of Its planks that opposing State ment No. 1. Had Freeman been elected chairman and had the Hodson-Bailey followers controlled the convention, the delegates would have slipped a knife Into all of tTRen's pet -measures, for, besides dealing - the statement a knockout blow, , the . platform .opposed proportional representatloribecause it Is contrary to ,the very . princples of government determined by majority. U'Ren's recall measure also got a jolt and the wording' of the, platform in rejecting the recall said: Jolt, for-the -Recall. "An officer chosen by the people in a representative form of. government must be permitted to conduct th office in accordance with his oath. If his conduct as an official Is wrong, or if he is guilty of malfeasance in office, he may be removed by due process of law as now provided." Statement No. 1- was twice objected to in the platform, both because the framers of the platform were opposed to the obligatory subscribing to "the statement. In the' closing paragraph It says: "We believe 'it "Ms' unconstitu tional, and it is certainly unwise and destructive of all policy or principle of government in the selection - of Sen ators." The platform favored the improve ment of the water-ways, an amendment to the state bank law to prevent wild cat speculation by bankers and the ad ministration of the National Republican Administration was highly commended. Mr. Idleman, as chairman of the com mittee on platform, read the declaration (Continued on Pae 8.) Iplpiili;, !LJi REPORT AGAINST FULTON RATE BILL ElkinsQuotesKnapp in His Defense. FULTON CALLS FOR SHOWDOWN Fears Interstate Board Would Be Swamped. INJUSTICE TO RAILROADS Chairman of Commission Says Sliip- pers Would Block Rate Adjust ment, but Pid Not Con sult All Colleagues. OREGONTAX NEWS BUREAU. Wash., Feb. 29. Senator Elkins, chairman 'of the committee on interstate commerce, said today that his committee would report adversely on Senator Fulton's bill, providing that no interstate freight rate shall be increased until the Interstate Commerce Commission shall hold such increase to be reason able. Mr. Elkins says this adverse report will be based on a letter which he has received from Chairman Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission, say ing it is the opinion of that commis sion that such legislation is inadvis able. According to Mr. Knapp, if the Fulton bill should be passed, a com plaint would be filed every time any railroad undertook to advance its rates, and the commission, which Is already overburdened, would be completely swamped. The time necessary to pass upon these complaints, he says, would interfere with more important work, and, moreover, would give to any in dividual shipper, no matter how in significant his business, a right to block the Tirtfr-atfTrjs'tmentrfi of any in terstate road. It is Mr. Knapp'a opin ion that such legislation would work a great hardship on railroads. He be lieves there is ample remedy un4er ex isting law. It is to be noted, however, that Mr. Elkins does not give out the text of his letter from Mr. Knapp, and it is also significant that some members of the commission were not consulted by Mr. Knapp before he wrote It. Mr. Fulton intends to force Mr. Elkins to a showdown. DEADLOCK OX ATTORNEYSHIP Delegation Hopes to Break It-Bris-tol Wants Assistants. OREGOXIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Feb. 29. The District Attorney ship squabble is still occupying the Ore gon delegation to a considerable extent. W. C. Bristol's name is not before the Senate, his nomination having formally been withdrawn by the President. The nomination which Is pending in the Senate waiting for its advice and consent is that of Christian Schuebel, whose name has not been withdrawn, al though the Oregon delegation expressed a desire to have this done when it recom mended T. J. Cleeton for the place. Each of these three attorneys apparently has an insurmountable obstacle in his way to prevent either permanent tenure of the office or obtaining it at all. ll the present status should continue until the close of the present session and a recess appointment be thus at the disposition of the President, the Department of Justice undoubtedly would make a fight to a finish to prevent the selection of Mr. Bristol, for its officials, from Mr. Bona parte down, have been expressing a great degree of satisfaction over the with drawal of his nomination and Joy at the prospect of his separation from their bcanch of the Government service. Should Mr. Schuebel be given a recess appointment, his tenure would be for the recess only, as the Senate judiciary com mittee would be ready, should his name be sent In at the next session, to reject him should Senator Fulton say the word. Confronting Mr. Cleeton is the dictum of the Attorney-General that he is not the man wanted for the place. Mr. Fulton said last night that he expects the members of the Oregon dele gation will get together early next week. HARRY MURPHY TAKES A HUMOROUS VIEW OF SOME and he anticipates that an agreement will be reached resulting in the recommenda tion of a candidate acceptable to the De partment of Justice and the President. Senator Bourne has expressed a desire to have the Attorneyship muss cleared up and it is not expected he will put any serious obstructions in the way of "pre senting a name In the place of . Mr. Schue bel, if the latter can be cared for with the place of assistant. The Department of Justice has re ceived an application from Mr. Bristol for permission to appoint two assistants to meet the increasing work in his of fice. The application is being considered. The Attorney-General states that the ap plication will probably be granted and the assistants allowed. It is expected that Mr. Bristol will continue in the ac tive performance of his duties until his successor qualifies. DRIVES TACK IN TONGUE Teacher Charged With Inhuman Treatment or Children. STEUBEN VILLE, O., Feb. 29. Miss Clara Sterling, teacher at Tuscara Coun ty Children's Home, who, It is alleged, drove a tack into 8-year-old Sampson Fowler's tongue, is accused of other cruelties in a report of the County Board of Visitors filed with the Probate Judge today. The Board says that Miss Ster ling forced several boys under her charge to take ground mustard into their mouths until their mouths were burned, and several of them were made violently ill. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 48 degrees; .minimum, Jit degrees. TODAY'S Rain; fresh southerly breeze. . Foreign. Sentence on Russian terrorists confirmed. "Section 1, page 4. Gloom in Dublin over loss of crown jewels. Section 3, page tf. Jewels of Pharoah's Queen found. Section 4. page 1. National. Navy officers who criticised warships testify before Senate committee. Section 1. Tme 1. Suspicion of graft causes House to kill scheme for Washington rifle range. Sec tion 1, page 9. Elkins -will condemn Fulton rate till on Knapp recommendation. Section 1 page l. Fleet sails from Callao. Section 1. page 2 PolltJe. Taft "speaks on violation of rights of for eigners. Section 1. page 1- Speaker Cannon swears when repeal of paper pulp duty is mentioned. Section i, page 2. Kentucky. Democrats may avenge them selves for election of Bradley by carry ing prohibition. Section 1, page 2. Gillett and Pardee carry California political fight to Washington. Section 1, page 3. Domestic. Garrett, famous Western pun tighter, f killed in Texas. Section. 1, page 3. Fight on Uarriman control of Illinois Cea- ' tral renewed. Section page . Nun lopss from Iowa convert and marries. Section 1, page 1. ' . ) Sport. Beavers oft for for California training camp. Section 4, page ft. Archers to hunt big game with -bow and ar row. Section 3, page 8- Far North may baffle New York to Paris autolstf. Section 4, page 7. Auto enthusiasts plan road from Portland to Seaside. Section 4, page 6- Mysterious Billy Smith will re-enter ring. Section 4, page 8. Portland beats Tacoma at golf. Section 4, page 7. Italian autolstr- accuse Americans of violat ing rules. Section 1. page 6. Pacific Coast. Stubbls lining up San Francisco shippers to defend Southern Pacific is rebate case. Section 1, page 5. Lane County Republicans denounce U'Ren and Statement No. 1. Section 1, page 6. Oswald West tells how he pulled spikes from railroad ties with his Angers. Sec tion 1, page 7. Portland loses Lumbermen's Convention by one vote. Section 1, page 6. Willamette students again refuse to Indorse ex-President Coleman. Section 1, page 7. Cushman after Piles Job. Section 1. page 7. - Commercial and Marine.. European demand for Pacific Coast wheat improves. Section 4, page 9. Chicago wheat .market strong and higher. Section 4, page 9. Friday's gains in stocks wiped out "in Sat urday's trading. Section 4, page 9. New York bank statement shows cash loss. Section 4, page 9. Steamer Sue H. Elmore will operate between Portland and Tillamook. Section 4, page 8. Grain exports for February break ail rec- , ord9. Section 4, page S. Portland and Vicinity. Statistics prove Portland is forging ahead in every line. Section 2, page 4. Officers of Title Bank may escape prosecu tion on a technicality. Section 2, page 12. Statement No. 1 virtually repudiated by Re publicans In convention. Section 1, page 1 Furniture dealer denies existence of trust. Section a. page lO. Lane faction will fight Councilman Driscoll. Section 3. page 10. Fruit canning industry makes great growth in Oregon. Section 1, page 11. Dawson and Yukon territory will have float In Rose Festival parade. Section 1, page 10. Principal Hujrh son's trial for assaulting pupil begins. Section 2, page 12. H. M. Cak; candidate for Senator, makes public platform. Section 1, page 10. Swifts offer Seattle packing-house company site on Peninsula. Section 2, page 4. Irish societies will honor memory of Robert Kmraet Section 4, page 10. REUTERDAHLWILL FACE HIS CRITICS Ready to Prove Charges Against Navy. ON THE WAY TO WASHINGTON Senate Can Have Proof for Every Count, He Says. 'OLD FOGIES IN THE NAVY" Man Who Started Investigation of War-Vessel Construction Says Two-Thirds or ctlve Officers Will Vphold. His Assertions. CALLAO. Feb. 29. fSuWlaL Henrv j Reutcrdahl. whose caustic criticisms of the United States Navy have caused Na- j tion-wide comment, and who has aroused the ire of the officials in Washington, to day sailed for San Diego on the supply ship Culgoa. He is expected to arrive there in a fortnight. Then he will go to Washington to make reply to those wno criticised his criticisms. .. The man who has declared that the Navy is inefficient, badly managed and far below the standard the people of the United States believeait has attained, be fore leaving Admiral Evans" fleet, said: Will Be on Firing Line. "I have seen four target practices of the United States Navy, and I am now returning to Washington to meet and an swer my critics. I- must be on the tiring line. "If I am ordered before 'the United States Senate investigating committee in regard to my comments on the Navy, I will give Complete proof of all my charges, and I am ready to demonstrate that two-thirds of 'all the active line officers uphold my assertions regarding our Bhips of war. Stick to Ancient Customs. 'The Navy is bedridden by a lot of old fogies who hold their jobs just because they blindly follow ancient traditions. "I am single-hearted! in my purpose. I am striking not at men, but at the sys tem; and I believe that r am an avenger who to welcomed by the majority of the J officers of the Navy." n After Mr. Reuterdahl's departure the fleet sailed from the port for Magdelena Bay. Gain Day in Schedule. Admiral Evans is" still ill, but his physicians say he is in no immediate danger. The Admiral suffers excru ciating pain. Last night, aboard the Admiral's flagship, the Connecticut, he said to the correspondents: "You may tell the people ui the United States that- the fleet will arive in Magdalena Bay one day ahead of its schedule and 100 per cent greater in its efficiency than w.hen it left Hamp ton Roads. We will cut out the target practice within three weeks after our arrival in Magdalena Bay and do the flower parade up the coast without springing an engine or crippling a jackie." WHERE R EUTERDAH1 GOT IOEA Officers Who Inspired Him Repeat Criticisms of Battleships. WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-The Senate committee- on naval affairs today heard the statements of the naval officers who have been quoted as criticising the con struction of battleships and upon whose authority it has been suggested the charges made by Mr. Reuterdahl were based. Lieutenant-Commanders F. K. Hill and Carl T. Qogelgesang and Captain Bradley A. Fiske were questioned con cerning their views on naval construction and Rear-Admiral Capps asked questions and commented upon their testimony as they proceedied. Lieutenant-Commandier Hill said: "Our ships are usually good ships, but I believe there are certain specific errors which should be remedied, and the loca tion of the water-line armor belt of our battleships is, according to my opinion, one of these defects." Mr. Hill said that last October the Sec OF THE EVENTS OF retary of the Navy decided! to appoint board to investigate these matters, but later decided 'not to do so. At that time he prepared a report and had letters bearing on the controversy to submit to the board. Re had submitted the papers to the (Secretary, showing his criticism and proposed remedy for the defects. He continued: "I am not the originator of these criti cisms. This subject has been discussed for a long time, and criticisms have been made by officers aboard chip and special boards have been ordered on board ships by request of the Navy Department. '.'There are two questions in regard to the armor-belt. One is thickness and the other the location. I believe the thick ness Is plenty, if not more than it should be, but the location is not correct, accord ing to my view. You want to get a ship into action at or near a particular water line and have that water line protected, l'bu must have sufficient; width of armor above and below to protect that partic ular water line." Mr. Hill, continuing, explained that he thought the battleships should be con structed to carry all the coal possible. The ships, he- said, have their water line fixed by estimating but two-thirds of their full capacity of coal, which allows the speed trial to show the greatest speed possible. Don't Keep l"p to Trial Speed. "I think," he added, "rarely have any of our ships in service ahown the speed they have developed on their trial trips. Foreign ships have the same weakness in this respect, but foreign constructors ars correcting the error. "I want enough coal on board to chase the enemy after fighjing him," he de clared, saying the battleships should have all the coal possible, with the water line fixed with a view of accommodating It. The new ships of our navy, he said, if provided with a full load of coal, will have seven feet and six Inches of armor below the waterline and six Inches above It. Rear-Admiral 'Capps inten-upted with a question, which was followed by a state ment by him contradictory to much that Mr. Hill had said. He declared that the practice of Knglish, Japanese and Ameri can constructors is the same, certainly for the past ten years, regarding the water line and the coal carried. If there was any difference tho Japanese provided for less coal. . The tendency in the American Navy had been to provide as large bunkers as -possible. American Turrets" Inferior. . Lieutenant-Commander ' Vogelgesang, a member of the turret board that examined all the turret ships on the Atlantic Coast six months ago, was called to the stand. The result of the' examination, he said, was to show that there should be some structural separation betwjeen the turrets' probes and the handling-rooms on battle ships, which does not now exist and never lias existed in the service. It is. he said, imperative that there should be some im provement. The safety shutters had proved to be cumbersome and ineffective. Replying to a question, he said he be lieved American turrets to be inferior to tiiose of foreign ships. He thought a disaster such as that on the Missouri, which lost 10 lives, -could not have hap pened on a foreign ship. The flareback would have been avoided by, the method of construction of the turrets of those ships. Can't Make Battleships Safe. "If you can propose anything to render a turret absolutely safe," said Admiral Capps, "you will earn the undying grati tude of the Navy Department. I personal ly beBeve that it will be impossible to make any battleship immune from danger during times of battle." Admiral Capps added that the accident on the Missouri would not have occurred, had not the ammunition been brought out In a way never contemplated by the regulations. Captain Bradley A. Fiske testified that he had had little experience that qualified him to comment on the question of the proper waterline and turrets. "Yet you might be put in command of a ship?" asked Senator Tillman. Later Mr. Tillman remarked that the witness "had never been in a battle, to which Captain Fiske replied that he had overlooked the battle of Manila. "Oh, that was a murder," said Mr. Tillman. "It did not look that way befora it began," suggested the witness. Naval Officers Invent Xothing. Reading from an article written, by Captain Fiske to the efTect that no im provement in. the Navy had ever been originated by a naval officer, Mr. Tillman nsked if he held to the statement. Mr. Fiske deliberated for a long time. ' "I do not know of any instance in which they have done so," he'finally re plied. Senator Perkins said - Captain FiBke's paper reminded him of the Bible. It was a very fine literary production, but nothing could be proved by it. He added that, as CongTess appropriates $100,000 an nually for experimental tests? he was surprised they had not resulted in some inventive idea. Captain Fiske said he could suggest no Improvements to remedy the difficulties that had been pointed out. It was agreed that Mr. Sims should ap pear before the committee on Monday. Large Tank Vessel Launched. CAMDEN. N. J., Feb. 29. The steam ship Oklahoma, one of the largest tank vessels ever constructed in an American ship-yard, was launched today at the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Com pany in this city. The vessel is owned by the Guffey Petroleum Company and when completed will ply between Phila delphia and Port Arthur. Texas. The vessel has a capacity of 2.000,000 gallons and has a length of 440 feet. THE WEEK ICOffflT mm CUPID Nun Elopes With Lover and Marries. SHOTS FIRED AT BRIDEGROOM Bride Runs Through Snav ir Bare Feet-to Liberty. LAW FORCES OPEN DOORS Sisters Capture Dye, bat Exetmtijr H i ni for G I rl Habea s Cor pu s ; Releases Her and Jnd?e Ties the " Knot, COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. Feb. (Special.) Sister Geneva, of the SHteT of Charity, connected" with St. Berrard's Convent and Hospital in- this city, hn escaped from the Institution and yes terday was married in Omaha t O. R Dye, of St. Joseph, Mo. Tho est-apad has caused a great sensation In' Catholic circles in "Western Iowa urn all sorts of rumors are afloat. The convent authorities are maintaining strict secrecy. Sister Geneva is only 26 years old, although a nun of ten years' standing1. Mr. Dye, while working- at the institu-j tlon, fell in love with the sister. It W said he was discharged when - the mother superior discovered the love o'. the young people. Shots Fired at Bridegroom. Arrangements had been made through friends for an elopement and Thursday night just before midnight Dye waj at the appointed place under the wail cf the convent, when Sister Geneva threw a package of clothes down from he'f . window and 'then started down th. stairs with her shoes in her hau'. window of the convent Is said to h I been thrown tip and two shots fired ;j Dye. This the convent autborititl deny, .but Mr. Dye stoutly maken. til affirmation. After a scuffle the sister escaped, while Mr. Dye was captured and held a prisoner several hours. He says Sister Geneva made her way in - her bare feet through the snow to the Kiel Hotel. Several hours later she was confronted by the convent authorities and exchanged for Mr. Dye, who was ' given his liberty on condition that the young nun return to the convent. Cupid Wins iii the End. But Mr. Dye was not idle long. Be fore 8 o'clock he had obtained habeas corpus papers and was bark at the convent with an officer and got posses sion of Sister Geneva. Just a soon as arrangements could be made, the young people went across the river to Omaha, where they got a marriage license and were married by County Judge Leslie. Mother Vincent denies a portion of the story, saying that Sister Geneva was only a novice and was permitted to leave the convent whenever she chose. To this the young nun makes denial and says she had been In the convent ten years, entering there when only 16 years old. BRENT IS LIKELY ChOICE Bishop of Philippines May Get the Washington Diocese. WASHINGTON, Feb:- 29. Bishop Charles N. Brent, of the Philippine Islands, is the official of the Episcopal Church most mentioned In Washington as the probable successor, of the late Bishop Henry Tates Satterlee in the diocese of Washington. Rev. William Meyer Grosvenor. rector of the Church of the Incarnation, and the Rev. Dr. Ernest M. Stires, rector of St. Thomas of New York City; Bishop William Andrew Leonard, of Cleveland, Ohio, and the ev. A. MacKay Smith, of Washington, have all been proml- nently mentioned.