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About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1907)
SUFFERS TO SAVE FAMILY Boss Ruef, of San Francisco, Pleads Guilty to Extortion. Still Declares Himself Innocent Charge Was Central Figure Pathetic and Dramatic Scene Will Receive Sentence In About Two Weeks. San Francisco, May 16. Abraham Ruef, better known aa Abe Ruef, the acknowledged adviser of Mayor Schmil z, ana once the recognized dictator of municipal affairs in this city, pleaded guilty to the charge of extortion in Judge Dunne's department of the Supe rior court yesterday afternoon. Sen tence will be pronounced upon him two weeks hence. After a private conference with his lour aattorneys in Judge Dunne's cham bers and after they had withdrawn from his case because of the resolution he liad taken to change his plea and avoid trial, Ruef, to the utter astonishment of the prosecution, aroee in court and announced in a dramatic address that after long and earnest consideration he had determined to withdraw his plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty. He asked that the jury be dismissed and the trial abandoned. Ruef read his statement from manu script which he had prepared in the presence of his attorneys a few momenta before Judge Dunne's chambers opened. He showed in his voice, in the expres sion of his face, in his quiet and gest ureless attitude and by the tears that again and again overflowed his eyes, the great emotion and the utter humil iation he suffered. The pathos of the scene was communicated to the crowd that thronged the courtroom. Though Abraham Ruef has formally declared himself to be guilty of the charge on which he was about to be 'tried, he nevertheless proclaims his in nocence. He confesses that he is guilty of having connived at the corruption in municipal affaire, but he denies with .all the emphasis a man in his unhappy position can command that he ia guilty -of the crime of extortion charged against him. He declares that his sole motive in accusing himseli in open court was to save the lives of these who are nearest and dearest to him, his aged father and mother, his maiden sister .and a niece. OCANNOT BELIEVE ORCHARD. Poible"Jurors in Haywood Case Re veal New Prejudice. Boise, Idaho, May 16. The unex pected uncovering of a vein of prejudice ;against Harry Orchard and his testimo ny during the fuither examination of talesmen in the Steunenberg murder case yesterday led to the first Bharp wrangle between couneel and involved the name of President Roosevelt in an acrimonious discussion. The jury box was finally filled with 12 talesmen subjected to examination and temporarily passed by both sides at 3:40 o'clock in the afternoon and the court announced that it was in order for both sides to exercise peremptory chal lenges. Counsel for Haywood asked for a few momenta' delay and for five minutes they gathered around the chair of the prisoner and engaged in earnest -consultation as to their course on the men occupying the jury box. The state exercised its right first and excused William Van Orsdale. a grocer, who has occupied seat No. 2 since the opening day of the trial. George F. Maw, a young farmer with some Btrong objections to the acts of certain ele ments in the labor unions of the coun try, was then called to the vacant place. The state passed him and he was still in the hands of the defense when ad journment hour was reached. The trial will not be resumed until 2 o'clock this aiternoon. Carry Own Stevedores. New York, May 16. Today 100 men 'from New England were put to wcrk -on South Brooklyn piers. The Prince Eitel Frederick arrived from Kingston with 50 negroes, who had been added to the crew, that they might do the work of the stevedores. The scheduled . sailing of steamers will be made on time, and, according to the steamship officials, with nearly full cargoes. The etcamship companies declare they are moving ships with trie aid ot nonunion men. The strikers say mere m wavering in their ranks. no Probing Denver Land Fraud. Denver, May 16. The special Feder al grand jury, the first to be held in Denver in many years, called to probe into coal and timber land frauds, con vened here today. The work will be in charge of Ernest Knaebel, special as sistant to the attorney general, who has Ar.rkA most of his time of the last i -pur to land investigations, and Ralph iTortToll. actimr United States district attorney. A dozen witnesses from St. Louis and Milwaukee arrived today. Drumhead Courtmartial Retained. ri- Potersbnre. May, 16. The coun ipcted the bill which was passed April 30 by the lower house L..S.H .;! h ilrnmhrnd court B nCUHIllllIC I la". J martial. RUEF MAKES GOOD PROMISE Tells Qraud Jury About Franchise Graft Doomed to Prison. San Francisco, May 17. Abraham Ruef made good his declaration that he would, following his change of plea to guilty in the extortion cases against him, turn state a evidence and assist the bribery graft prosecution In its cam paign against municipal corruption Ruef, obeying a subpoena from the grand jury served upon him at the Fill more street prison house shortly before 3 o'clock yesterday, went in the charge of Speical Agent Burns, Elisor Biggy and another guard to the grand jury chambers in Native Sons' hall, where he took the witness stand and submit ted to an examination that lasted from 3:20 p. m. until after 5 p. m. When the ordeal was over, he called the newspaper men arcund him and said that he had promised the grand jury to divulge nothing. District At torney Lancdon and Assistant District Attorney Heney refused to make any statement whatever. From Mr. Burns it was learned that the only matter on which Ruef was questioned was the al leged bribing of Mayor Schmitz and 18 supervisors by the United Railroads to grant to that corporation a change in its franchise allowing the electrifying of its 250 m' lea of street railway sys tem in this city.' SCHMITZ ABDICATES OFFICE Signs Agreement to Let Committee of Citizens Name Officials. San Francisco, May 17. Mayor Schmitz last night signed an agreement to be guided in his appointments dur ing the rest of his term by a committee of seven. This committee ia composed of representatives of local commercial associations. Schmitz from now on will be mayor in name only. He willingly signed the agreement, as he is a nervous wreck and unable to carry on the affairs of the city. Before concluding arrangements with Schmitz, the committee called upon F. J. Heney, and explained its plans. Mr. Heney said it would not conflict with the graft prosecution. The practical abdication of the mayor will result in the appointment of a new chief of police at once to restore order and a new works commissioner to clean the city and repair the streets. More drastic actions will then follow. ONLY ONE IN ELEVEN PASSES. Examination of Talesmen in Haywood Case Reveals Prejudice. Boise, Idaho, May 17. During the one session of the Haywood trial held yesterday 11 talesmen were examined before a satisfactory juror was secured to replace William Van Orsdale, the grocer, as No. 2, who was excused Wednesday after neon on a peremptory challenge frcm the state. As court ad journed yesterday the defense exercised its first challenge by relieving Allen Pride, a farmer, aa No. 5. Mr. Pride had testified during his examination that he had invited to dinner the dep uty who served him with a jury sum mons. He and the deputy discussed the cape for some time, their talk hing ing particularly upon Harry Orchard, who is to be the principal witness for the Btate. A talesman was called to replace Pride, but his examination was deferred until today. Will Prosecute Harriman. Washington, May 16. That the in quiry conducted by the Interstate Com merce commission into the conduct oi railroads controlled by E. H. Harriman, will result in prosecutions was plainly shown by the publication today of the report and recommendatlona ot irank B. Kellogg and Charles A. Severance, counsel for the commission. Within a shot time the commission will take up this report, vote upon it and transmit to the department of Justice the evi dence tending to show that the Harri man school of railroad financiering ha? operated in violation of the Sherman anti-trust laws and other statutes. The publication of this important report caused a pronounced senpation. It proved a decided shock to some of the members of the commission. Eight Million in a Year. Butte, Mont., May 17. At a meet ing of the stockholders of the Anaconda Copper Mining company, held today at the oflices of the company in Anaconda, all of the old directors were re-elected. The report of John D. Ryan, president of the Anaconda Copper Mining com pany, submitted to stockholders, shows that the corporation for the year that ended Dec. 31, 1906, earned a profit of $8 842,669. The balance on Dec. 31, 1905, was $7,240,572, which, with the profits for last year, amounted to a sur plus of $16,083,241. Carmen Make Headway. San Francisco, May 17. The Geary street road has granted the demands of the striking carmen and will resume operations on a basis of $3 for an eight hour day. The board of supervisors notified the officials of the line last Monday that, unless the company start ed its cars, the city would take the road and operate it. The line runs from the junction of Geary, Kearney and Market streets to Golden Gate park. This is a victory for the men. Will Cut Passenger Rates! St. raui, May i. General reduc tions in passenger rates to all points by the Great Northern railroad will soon be announced, to become effective July 1. A. L. Craig, passenger traffic man ager, states that the Great Northern will allow all points on its system to receive the benefit of the lower rates ' rrovided by the Minnesota and North .. . - - . . ! Dakota laws, 2 and 2 cents. HAPPENING GATHERED IN AND AROUND WASHINGTON, D. UNIVERSITY GETS MONEY. Supreme Court Settles the Wyoming Wrangle Over Funds. Washington, May 15. The Supreme court of the United States today dec id ed the controversy between the Wyom ing Agricultural college and the Uni versity of Wyoming aa to which of the institutions is entitled to the nations government funds contributed to the state for the support of an agricultura college, in favor of the univeristy affirming the verdict of the Wyoming Supreme court. The case was instituted by the Agri cultural college, located at Lander, which set up a claim for $25,000 paid by the national government for the year 1905. The state Supreme court decided in favor of the university, which is lo cated at Laramie, and which maintains an agricultural department under state sanction, holding that the funds should continue to so to that institution until further legislation on the subject. The opinion was by Justice Moody, who held that the government grants are to the state and not to any particular in stitution. Malcontents Gain Points. Washington, May 16. Governor Franz, of Oklahoma, and the delega tion from that state, who are in Wash' ington to confer with Chairman Sher man and members of the Republican congressional committee regarding the constitution adopted for the state of Oklahoma, have received a telegram announcing an appeal from the perma nent injunction granted byJJudge Pen- coast at Alva, Okla. in the Woods county case, restraining the county offi cers from calling an election prior to November, 1908. Timber In Public Domain. Washington, May 16. Lands here tofore withdrawn from entry by order of the president for forest reservation purposes have been restored to the pub ic domain as follows: 998,560 acres in the Rainier and 256,000 acres in the Washington forest, Washington: 355, 840 acres in the Cascade forest and 32,000 in the Heppner forest, Oregon; 244,980 acres in the Medicine Bow for est, Wyoming. Eight Hour Law Helds. Washington, May 15. Justice Holmes, of the Supreme court of the nited States, today announced a de cision in seven cases, involving the con struction of the law of 1892, by which the employment of laborers and me chanics on public works is limited to eight hours per day. The defendants were all prosecuted criminally and were all found guilty and fined by the trial court. The law was held not ap plicable to dredgemen. Warships Stay in Position. Washington, May 17. That the American warships now in Central American waters will be retained there for some time was indicated at the State department today. The Marietta is at Puerto Cortez, the Paducah at Point Barrios and the Yorktown is tak ing Minister Merry from Costa Rica to Acajutla. Again Probing Brownsville Affray. Washington, May 16. The insti gation by the senate committee on mil itary affairs of the Brownsville shoot ing affray, was resumed tcday. It is expected that testimony will be offered against the negro discharged soldiers.1 Heretofore the testimony has been mostly in favor of the negroes. Northwest Postal Affairs. Washington, May 14. Claude E. Hathaway has been appointed regular, Clarence Hathaway substitute, rural carrier, route 4, at Cheney, wash. Oregon postmasters appointed: Biy, Ada Erb, vice W. F. Reed, resigned; Celilo, Ulric C. Dodge, vice I. H. Taf fer, resigned. Successor to A. C. Edwards. Washington, May 15. Arthur E. McFatridge, superintendent of the Winnebago Indian school, has been appointed agent at Umatilla, Or., to succeed Major O. C. Edwards, whose resignation has been accepted. He is expected to take charge at once. Northwest Postal Affairs. Washington, May 16. Clarence E. Gay, has been appointed regular, Liz zie Gay, substitute, rural free delivery carrier, route 8, at Spokane, TVash. Herman J. Grand has been appointed postmaster at Johnson, Wash., vice L. S. Greer, resigned. Special Delivery Stamp Not Needed. Washington, May 16. No special delivery postage stamps will be needed after July 1 to insure the immediate delivery of a letter. The affixing of 10 cents extra postage and marking the covering "Special Delivery" will suf fice. Consul Manning Prepares to Sail. Washington, May 14. I. N. Man ning, of Portland, recently appointed consul to Cartagena, is here receiving instructions from the State department prior to his departure for his post. His wife and daughter accompany him. Cannot Enforce Higher Rates. Washington, May 16. The Inter state Commerce commission today de cided that where two rates between the same points are in force, the shipper must be given the benefit of the lower. C. ROOSEVELT MUST DECIDE. Interstate Commission Disagrees In Harriman Case. Washington, May 18. The question of bringing criminal prosecution against Jit. il. Harriman and suits to dissolve the railroad combinations he has effect ed must be decided by President Roose velt. This is a matter in which no subordinate will meddle. The president must figure out his own deductions and assume full responsibility for the con sequences. The Interstate Commerce commission is divided into factions. One believes that succeessful suits can be maintain ed to break the Harriman combinations under the Sherman anti-trust act, wmch might permit subsequent crim inal prosecution of Harriman. The other is convinced that legal proceed ings for the dissolution of the combina tions would prove an ignoble failure. Commissioner Coming West. Washington, May 15. It is learned that Indian Commissioner Francis E Leupp, who is soon to make a trip to the .Northwest, will visit Pendleton and the Umatilla reservation and will make an investigation ot conditions at the headquarters of the agency and look into the charges that have been made against Superintendent O. C. Edwards, which were made several months ago This is taken to mean that the Indian department is not entirely satisfied with the investigation made some time since by Inspector Davis, who was sent there for that purpose. Immigration Commission to Sail. Washington, May 17. When the steamer Canopic Bails from Boston on Satudray next for Naples, it will have on board members of the Immigration commission authorized at the last ses sion of congress to make an extensive study of every phase of the immigra tion question in this country and abioad and to report its findings to congress While a part of the commission will go abroad, some of the members will re main in this country to study the ques tion. The commission will return by way of Liverpool upon the steamer Ce dric August 29. Portland Needs It Badly. Washington, Alay 14. In response to an inquiry from Senator Bourne, District Attorney Bristol states that there ia great need for the establish ment of a naturalization bureau at Portland, if the department is to adopt the policy outlined a few days ago look ing to the elimination of naturalization and election frauds. Mr. Bourne will put the matter to the attorney general and etrongly urge the establishment of such a bureau at Portland, of the de partment decides to carry out the plan now in hand. Taft'a Brother Visits President. Washington, May 14. Henry W. Taft, of New York, a brother of the secretary of war, talked with the presi dent today about the prospective va cancy on the bench of the United States Circuit court for the Second district to be caused by the retirement of Judge Wallace. Mr. Taft went also to the War department to see his brother and later returned to the White House with the secretary, remaining there for some time discussing political matters. Mr. Taft declined to say anything for publication. Great Area Open To Entry. Washington, May 16. On July 27 there will become subject to settlement, but not to entry filing or selection until August 26, about 355,840 acres within Portland, Lakeview, The Dalles and Roseburg land districts, Oregon, and surrounding the Cascade national for est reserve temporarily withdrawn as a proposed addition to that forest reserve about 132,920 acres withdrawn for pro posed addtiion to the Heppner forest national within the La Grande and The Dalles land districts will become subject to settlement, entry filing or selections. Grant Veterans Hold Reunion. Washington, May 17. An interest ing feature of the next Republican Na tional convention will be a reunion of the delegates to the national conven tion in Chicago in 1880 who for 36 bal lots supported General U. S. Grant for the presidency for a third term. The call for the reunion has been is sued by Colonel A. M. Hughes, of Co lumbia, Tenn., the only surviving member of the Tennessee delegation to that convention. Green Bug Yield to Enemy. Washington, May 16. It was an nounced by the Agricultural depart ment today that the "green bug," which has done so much damage to wheat and other small grain in Texas and Oklahoma, and in a few of the southern counties of Kansas, already is practically exterminated by its natural parasite, a very minute black fly. It caused great damage in 1890 and again in 1900 and a third outbreak is now coming to a close. Barrett to Break Ground. Washington, May 16. The president today requested John Barrett to act as his representative at the ceremony at tending the breaking of ground at attle on June 1. Mr. Barrett has matter under advisement. Se the Northwest Postal Affairs. Washington, May 17. William H. Thomas has been appointed regular, Eliza M. Thomas substitute, rural free delivery carrier, route 2, at Bow, Wash. PLAN TO BLOCK HENEY. United Railway Officials and Employes Refuse to Testify. San Francisco, May 15. The United Railroads has resorted to desperate means to block Francis J. Heney in hig efforts to fasten upon the officials of the corporation the bribery transac tions to which the supervisors have confessed. Stanley Moore, one of the attorneys for the corporation, informed Mr. Heney today that the officers and employes of the United Rail reads in tended to ignore the ruling of Judge Coffey and would refuse to testify be fore the grand jury. When the United Railroads people first refused to testify, Mr. Heney cited them before Judge Coffey, who ordered them to answer. Now the corporation has instructed its officers and employes to ignore the court's older. When Mr. Heney received the mes sage from Mr. Moore he repiled with some heat that in such a contingency he would call upon the judge to punish the witnesses for contempt, "and 1 will not ask for a light fine, but for the heaviest penalty the law affords," said Mr. Heney. "It is ridiculous," said Mr. Heney, "for thoee people to contend that their relations are confidential and that they cannot divulgn the company's affairs. I only regret that there is not some method of punishing the attorneys who advise their clients to disobey the law in this way." CARS ARE STONED. San Francisco StreetsgRuled by Mob and Police Powerless. San Francisco, May 15. Yesterday, one week after the lurk street battle, which marked the present car strike as the bloodiest labor disturbance in the history of San Francisco, was the worst day of violence since that tragic event . The forenoon passed with little disturb ance, but throughout the hours of the afternoon from 12 to 7 o'clock, stones flew on Mission street from Fifth to Twenty-fourth, a distance of about three miles, and the lives of many pas sengers as well as thoee of the nonunion operatives of the ten cars on that line were almost constantly in danger. Though nearly 100 policemen, a few of them mounted, were stationed along Mission street under the command of Captains Anderson and Duke, violence was not prevented and comparatively few arrest b were made. In some in stances passengers narrowly escaped great injury or death from flying cob blestones and brickbats. Several pas sengers were assaulted by the crowds, numeroua strikebreakers were struck, panes of glass were smashed and per sons alighting from cars were chased and in some instances knocked down and beaten. TEN MEN PASSED. Good Progess Made in Getting Jury for Haywood Case. Boise, May 15. Substantial progress toward the formation of a jury to tiy William D. Haywood for the murder of Fran Steunenberg, twice chosen as the chief executive of this state, was made yesterday, the third day of the trial. Selection of talesmen halted for three hours over chairs 5 and 6, but once those seats had been filled progress was very rapid. At adjournment for the day counsel for the defense had com pleted the examination and temporarily passed the tenth talesman. They had but two more to examine in chief and a reservation to examine, if they desire to exercise the right, two of those tem porarily passed, so that with reasonable progress the 12th talesman should be passed today in time to open the way for the first peremptory challenge, whose exercise marks entry to the final stage of the formation of the jury. No Strike On Rio Crande. Denver, May 15. There will be no Btrike of the trainmen of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad as a resutl of the differences over the wage scale. A conference lasting until late last night wound up with an agreement between the trainmen's committee and officials of the road that there would be mutual concessions and a caerful weighing of the claims of both sides until an un derstanding fair to all was reached and then a scale based on this understand ing will be signed at once. It will re quire eeveral days to settle the details. Canal Workers Quit Job. Panama, May 15. The strike of the steam shovel workers, which began yes terday, the men demanding $300 per month instead of their present salary of $210, continues today. This morn ing only eight steam shovels were at work. Colonel Goethals is endeavoring to replace the strikers with mechanics now emploved in the shops and it is re ported that he has sent a cablegram to Jackson Smith, the member of the canal commission to contract for en gineers in the United States. Resume Work on Athol Cutoff, Cheyenne, Wyo., May 15. Tele graphic instructions have been re ceived here to resume at once the build ing of the Athol cut-off on the Union Pacific railway between Cheyenne and Denver. The contract, amounting to some $500,000, was let some months ago and soon after work began it was ordered discontinued. The cut-off is built to avoid the steep grade over Athol hill and will reduce the time of trains between the two cities. Summer Already Begun. New York, May 15. The govern ment thermometer at the weather bu reau today registered 82 degrees and the first case of heat prostration for the year was reported. The victim was a laborer. IRRIGATION LAW MAY BE INVALID Supreme Court Thinks Government Has Exceeded Power. No Authority Given by Constitution to Reclaim Arid Land At Least Gov ernment Should Own Majority o the Land Test Suit Now Pendlrg in Arizona. Washington, May 14. The United States Supreme court in its decision in the Kansas-Colorado case today inti mates rather strongly that the National reclamation act under which the Feder al government is spending upwards of $30,000,000 may be unconstitutional. It is not so held in specific terms, but the constitutionality of this act ia in question, and it would not be surprising if private interests which are interfered with by government projects should bring suit to restrain the government from diverting water for irrigation pur poses. There is really one such suit pending, brought by ex-Senator Turner, of Wash ington, on behalf of an Arizona com pany that wants to restrain government work on the Colorado river, so that it can use water to reclaim land in Cali fornia. It is entirely probable that the Twin Falls company in Idaho may bring auit in the light of today's deci sion, lor there is prospect ot a con nice between the government and private enterprise along the Snake river. In rendering the decision m the Kan sas-Colorado case, Justice Brewer, on behalf of the court, declared that con gress can only legislate in respect to such matters as are specifically enume rated in the constitution and that pow er to legislate with respect to irrigation of arid land was not one of the enume rated powers granted by the constitu tion. The opinion holds, however, that congress may legislate with respect to lrirgation of arid land within the terri tories. Even though the constitutionality of the national reclamation law may ulti mately be sustained, if the question is ever raised, the court strongly intimates that under the law there is no authori ty for constructing government projects unless the government owns a majority of the land to be reclaimed, holding that the government has power to dis pose of and make rules respecting its own property. But, it is held, "we do not mean that its (congress) legislation can override state laws in respect to the general subject of reclamation." This part of the decision would seem to affect the government work now in progress in Eastern Washington, where the government does not own a majori ty of the land to be reclaimed, in fact, is only a small owner. Should the con stitutionality of the reclamation act be later established, it is inferred from this decision that the government may later be compelled to construct its works in accordance with state laws and construct only projects the majori ty of whose area ia public land. FIND CROP GREATLY DAMAGED, Omaha Grain Men Make Gloomy Re port After Trip. Omaha, May 14. A special train filled with a committee of 50 members of the Omaha Grain exchange, which has been making a tour of investigation of the Kansas and Nebraska wheat fields, returned this morning. The concensus of opinion follows: Wheat, especially in the southeastern, portion of Nebraska, has suffered about 10 per cent owing to'the influx of green bugs and continued drought. Sumner county, Kansas will not make over 40 per cent. The bugs have done great damage to the fields which were exam ined. Some members declare the en tire crop ruined between Caldwell, on the Oklahoma line, and the Wichita district. The party agrees that the yield of wheat will be very light as compared with former years. The party covered the districts of Kansas and Nebiaska which in the past have always raised bumper crops, going as far south as the Oklahoma state line. Railroad Blamed for Wreck. San Luis Obispo, Cal., May 14. After two hours' deliberation the cor oner's jury, holding an investigation of the Southern Pacific wreck at Honda Saturday afternoon, rendered a verdict this afternoon that the killed came to their deaths by burns and injuries re ceived, and that by the evidence'of wit nesses the wreck was caused by defect ive equipment. All of the injured in the wreck are improving except Brake man R. Fountain, whose back was se verely injured aand whose lower limbs were paralyzed. Frisco Cars Carry Passengers. San Francisco, May 14. One hun dred cars, manned and guarded by 350 nonunion strikebreakers, were operated yesterday from 8 A. M. until 7 P. M. on six of the 20 odd lines of the United Railroads. There were scores of acts of individual violence, but there was no riot beyond the ability of the police to put down. About 40,000 passengers were carried during the day. Thou sands of them, women as well as men, were subjected to intolerable insults. Want $300 Per Month. Fanama, May 14. As a result of a strike of workers on the steam shovels, only two shovels were worked today be tween Baso Bispo and Culehra. The shovel men demand $300 per month in stead of their present salary of $210.