Vol. II. No 17.
PORTLAND, OREGON, AUGUST 10,1912
STRIKERS' PICKETS AND
ROUNDHOUSE MEN MEET
IN FURIOUS FIST FIGHT
E n g lis h A v i a t o r a n d B r id e ,
W h o H a d “A e r o p la n e W e d d in g ”
For weeks the strikers’ pickets of the machinists named Simpson,
and the roundhouse force at the who was one of the first of the
Brooklyn carshops of the Southern strikers to go back to work after
the walkout was declared nearly
Pacific have been spoiling for a a year ago. Simpson has been in
fight, and last evening they got several melees before, and it is
their chance. About a dozen com said, had been shot at once or*
batants mixed in the battle royal twice on his way home, but he was
and for about 10 minutes the whole ready for the strikers when he
Seventh Ward landscape looked and his fallow workmen emerged
like a moving picture of a football from the gate.
scrimmage. Nobody went to the
The roundhouse bunch tiling
hospital, although witch hazel, ar- down their dinner buckets and off
nica and court plaster were served j went their hats and coats and the
before dinner when the gladiators slap, bang scrap was on. Arms,
got home. Conditions were ideal legs and fists flew around through
for the fistic encounter, for not a | the gathering twilight like a
policeman was anywhere in sight, Dutch windmill on a spree. The
and every one of the men who took I scrappers stood up to the scratch
part in the “ shindy” had been and blows were landed back and
aching for an opportunity to get forth. Onto the ground the bat-
in a few licks on the other fellows. tiers
“
rolled and it became a kick
Half a dozen pickets were wait ing, slugging, clawing and goug
ing around the gate to the barri ing match, in which the innocent
cade around the shops when the bystanders lost all sight of friend
quitting whistle blew last night and foe, but they enjoyed the pug-
They were, it is said, particularly fest immensely.
anxious to pay their compliments
Simpson was made the center
to the roundhousemen. Leading of attack by the pickets, but took
the strikers were two doughty good care of himself and when
belligerents, a boilermaker named | the sky had cleared and peace
"Wolford and a machinist named reigned the bystanders everred
Moe. According to rumors around that the strikers had gotten the
the yards, tliev had it in for one worst of the encounter.
take it up or g«“t some one else to
renew the franchise.
Should Protect Investors.
“ Honest investments in public
utilities should be protected
There should be clos«“ supervision
Municipal Ownership of Public I over such investments, and some
Utilities and Terminal Facil thing to insure their safety. Here
tofore there has been too much
ities Advocated by the Civic
speculation in public utilities, ami
Federation Head.
tliis supervision should be such as
Municipal ownership of all pub to offset this tendency.
“ Terminal facilities should cer
lic utilities, particularly and
above all others, transportation tainly be municipally owned. Upon
systems and terminals, is recom ; these terminals usually depends
mended by Delos F. Wilcox, repre ! the actual growth and expansion
senting the National Civic Federa I of the city, and they should cer
tion committee on regulation of tainly be guarded and controlled
public utilities, and chief of the that the city can use them t<^ its
bureau of franchises of the public best advantage. It is fundamental
service commission for the First | too, that transportation facilities
district of New York, who is visit should be municipally owned. The
experience of any American city
ing in Portland.
Mr. Wilcox came west to attend is getting extensions and accom
the recent convention of the Na modations from privately owned
tional Municipal league held at street railway corporations is*
Los Angeles, and while on the enough to show that revision along
coast he is putting some time to this line is imperative. The city
good advantage in studying the should own its streets and every
municipal questions of the far thing in them.
“ American cities have been
west cities. Some of these, Mr.
Wilcox says, he finds particularly backward in the matter of muni
interesting and unusual, as for in. cipal ownership. There is a grail-
stance the problem offered in Cal ual awak«‘ning, however, and
ifornia. where there are state laws though at present there is more
as well as local municipal regula talk about it than anything else,
tions governing public utilities. some r«“sults are being obtained,
Mr. Wilcox also cites the proposi and a general advance of the
tion recently encountered in Ore movement may be expected.”
gon. wherein state legislation
looking to municipal ownership
measures met with favor, though
in Portland an effort toward mu
nicipal ownership was turned
down.
Only Solution of Problem.
“ One thing I am firmly convinc
WASHINGTON. — A govern
ed of.” said Mr. Wilcox at the
Portland hotel, “ is that the ulti ment investigation of the alleged
mate solution of the local public higher-ups behind Cornelius II.
utility problem is municipal own Hanford, former judge of the Un
ership. American cities are so ited States court for the western
deeply in debt, however, ns a rule, «listriot of Washington, in his al
that looking at the matter from a , leged misconduct on the bench, is
financial standpoint, public owner i til«“ plan of Attorney-General
ship of utilities seems almost im Wickersham, according to an-
possible. I believe that the really nouncement made this afternoon
practical method of reaching the i by Congressman Victor Berger of
desired end is to put into all fran< Milwaukee.
chises. a provision that will virt Berger all along has insisted
ually make the properties pay for that the investigation in Seattle
themselves by the end of a given by the sub-committee of the house
time, so that at that time the city judiciary committee showed there
may take over the properties in were rich men behind Hanford
view without assuming a great who should not go unpunished.
Bcrgt'r was closeted for siiveral
«leal of additional debt.
“ I favor the indeterminate fran hours with Attorney General
chise. made to carry the stipula Wii-kersham, and later announced
tion that the city may take over that a federal grand jury would,
the utilities at any time. Fn«ler probably convene in Seattle to ex
this plan the eventual cost of the pose alleged higher-ups.
It is predicted that if the inves
utility to the city would be «le-
creasing all the time. I do not tigation starts, prominent Seattle
mean that I favor removing the lawyers, politicians, and business
maximum time limit, but would men will be drawn into the govern-
rather maintain the maximum ment‘s net through indictments.
time limit with the provision that Berger flatly charges that Han
if the franchise were not taken up ford was forced to resign to pro
at the expiration of the maximum tect alleged higher-ups from dis
limit, then the city would have to closure.
CITY SHOULD OWN
ITS STREETS, ALL
THATISINTHEM
P h o to c o p y rig h t. 1912, by A m e rlra n P re s s A sso ciatio n .
H E re c e n t w e d d in g In L o n d o n o f C la u d e G ra tm m e -W h ite . th e E n g lish
a v ia to r , a n d M iss D o ro th y T a y lo r o f N ew Y ork w a s p r e tty m u ch of
a n a e ro p la n e a ffa ir. T h e b rid eg ro o m a e ro p la n e d to VVldford, n e a r
C h e lm sfo rd , w h e re th e cerem o n y w a s p e rfo rm e d , a n d se v e ra l o f hla
a v ia to r frle n u s . In c lu d in g T om S o p w lth , G u s ta v e H a m e l, R o b e rt L o ra ln e ad d
o th e rs , flew fro m H en d o n . P ie rre V errle r c a r r ie d a w o m an p a s se n g e r, M iss
C b rlstlc h . T h e h a p p y co u p le h ad p la n n e d a h o n ey m o o n tr ip by a e ro p la n e ,
b u t th e b rid e h ad a p re m o n itio n o f d a n g e r, so th e y c ru is e d th e s o u th c o a s t o f
E n g la n d In a s te a m y a c h t a n d w ound up In P ra n c e , w h e n c e th e y flew horn*
o v er th e c h a n n e l. T h e b rid e is a niece o f th e la te G o v e rn o r F lo w e r o f N ew York.
T
B a ttle s h ip N e w H a m p s h ir e ’s S te r n
B a tte r e d b y C o llis io n W it h S te a m e r
HIGHER-UPS IN
SEATTLE MAY
BE INVOLVED
P h o to c o p y rig h t, 1912. b y A m e rica n P re ss A sso cia tion .
O
F F IC IA L S o f th e N ew York n av y y a rd , w h e re th e b a ttle e b lp N ew H a m p
sh ire w a s p u t In d ry d o ck a f te r h e r r e c e n t colllaio n w ith th e Kail R iv er
line s te a m e r C o m m o n w ea lth , e s tim a te t h a t th e re p a lra to th e b a ttle
eb lp w ill re q u ire tw o m o u tb a an d w ill co a t u p w a rd o f $ 4 0 ,(JU 0 . T h e
co llisio n o c c u rre d In N a rra g a n e e tt bay, an d th e N ew H a m p e b lre 'e e te rn p la te
on th e s ta r b o a r d aid e w aa Jam m ed In a b o u t fo u r Inches, a n d th e p la te w as
s p r u n g A c o u rt of In q u iry w ill re p o rt to W a s h in g to n on th e re sp o n s ib ility fo r
th e a c c id e n t O fficers o f th e b a ttle s h ip c h a r g e t h a t i t w as d u e to th e high
sp e ed o f th e r k a m i r th ro u g h th e fog th a t p re v a ile d a t th e tim e. W h ile th e
N ew H a m p s h ire is o u t o f com m ission h er p la c e In th e fleet w ill be ta k e n by
th e A la b a m a , w hich h a s been o ut of co m m issio n fo r th e p a s t tw o y e a r s an d
w h ic h Is now in th e first reserve.
Price 5 Centg
CHIEF ARTICLES IN TEDDY
ROOSEVELT S BULL MOOSE PARTY
In his “ confession of faith”
! made in bis speech to the National
Progressive convention today, Col-
onel Roosevelt struck boldly into
new ground advocating measures
| lie said frankly would be denounc
ed either as Socialism or anar
chy. These are some of the things
lie advocated
Coherent action between those
responsible for National affairs
and those responsible for stat«“ af
fairs. This he called the most im-
; portaut thing.
Extending the recall of judicial
I decisions to apply to Federal as
| well ns state courts.
Establishment of machinery to
| make amendment of both National
and state Constitutions easier.
Government aid for workmen
that they may become part own
ers of the business in which they
arc employed.
,
Alteration of the Government
system so a public servant, when
out the wishes of the people, shall
at their desire leave his office.
Control of trusts through re
tention of th<‘ Sherman anti-trust
law and establishment of an inler-
stat«“ industrial commission to reg
ulate industrial conditions govern
ing monopoly prices to be controll
ed where these concerns «leal with
the necessaries of life.
Adoption of a number of meas-
uivs to secure “ social and indus
trial justice to the wage workers.”
Legislation to increase popular
control of all Governmental
agencies, ineluding a National law
for Presidential primaries, election
of United States Senators by di-
rect vote, the short ballot, corrupt
practices’ acts, applying to pri
maries as well as elections, «|mili-
fied adoption of the initiative,
referendum and recall.
Woman suffrage.
Strengthening of the pure food
law.
Establishment of a National
Health Department.
Creation of a permanent Tariff
Commission to study the effects of
protection and the relations of the
tariff to labor.
The end of blanket revisions of
the tariff, saving changes shouhl
b«> mad«* schedule by schedule.
Measures to relieve tin1 high
cost- of living, among which are
suggested elimination of the mid
dle man.
Fortification of the Panama Ca
nal. Free passage through the Ca
nal for coastwise traffic and equal
tolls for all other ships, whatever
Hag they fly.
Navy to be built up steadily un
til reduction of armaments is
made possible by international
agr«*«“ment.
REAL WORKERS
ARE IN DEMAND
IN PORTLAND
the inability to procure common
labor, and farmers in some «lis-
triets face heavy crop loss«“s for
lack of harvesters.
One employment agent tried to
get twenty m<“ii to work right here
in the city at $2.7 « for niii«1 hours,
lie could not get one. It was not
necessary for them to be away
from home to do this work. Those
incii whom In* approach«'«! wanted
more money, and $2.75 is the max
imum that contractors and employ
ers arc willing to pay. That fig
ure compares favorably with the
rate prevailing in other citi«“s.
No scarce is tin* labor supply
that some Portlaml «‘inployment
agents no longer arc collecting
fees from the men for whom they
seek employment. One agency re
mained open until 12 o’clock Fri
day night to get enough men to
send south on tli«“ Southern Pacific
to work at $2.75 a day. No fee
was asked anil fri'«* transportation
was offered. Then did not get
enough to fill bis order. Ilis client,
was a contracting firm of reputed
integrity and fair dealing.
V«'t mori“ than 100 idle men lin
ed tli«' curbs ami pretended to be
looking for work. Another KM)
loafed in the parks. Still others
stood in the streets anil listcneil
to agitators bewail the bard lot
of the “ poor man looking for work
and unable to find it.”
Additional reason for tli«' pres
ent shortage of labor in this vi
cinity is the unusual activity in
( aiiHilian railroad building. Mure
than 100 miles of trai'k will be
ciimpbdcil in wcsti-rn ('amnia this
yi'ar. This work lias tnk«“ii sev
eral thoiisarui tn«*n from the Pmt-
lam I and Spokane markets. Some
of tliciu will drift back lierc wlicn
the cold weather of the approach
ing wintiT causes a tiqnporary sus
pension of activity.
Laborers Willing to Labor Wanted
in Portland. Clamor of Socialist
Agitators Directly Refuted
Wages and Conditions Good, but
Help Hard to Get.
T
Laboring men who ar«“ willing
to labor are wanted in Portland
now and are want«“«! badly. There
ar<‘ jobs for 5000 more men than
are available, according to labor
employment agents, and this while
liundr«‘ds of I. V . W. agitators
an«l Socialists are swarming on the
street corners ami cursing the gov
ernment.
The labor market, is painfully
short. Wages never were better,
and conditions of employment nev
er were mor«“ liberal. Yet, it is
almost impossible to secure com
potent, willing hands to do the
work.
City’s Greatest Need.
Men to work in th«‘ railroad «‘ou
st ruction camps, in the harvest
fields, in the logging camps, in the
iniiK's. mi the public improvements
and on irrigation and power pro
jects. arc lb«“ «“ity's greatest need.
There is a healthy «leinaiid also
for the semi-skilled trades, such
is carpenters. blacksmiths and tin«
bcrmcn. but the market, contains
all the skillcil help, mechanics ami
clerks that it requires.
Prevailing wages for niii«“ hours’
work vary from $2.50 to $2.75. No
«■mploycrs of large forces think
i of offering less than $2.50 these
¡ «lavs. Few of tlii'in reipiire their
i'mployres to work mor«‘ than nine
hours. If they «l<> they pay them
overt i in«*.
Employment agencies, contract
ors and regular employers aliko
GRAFT AND GAMBLING.
ar«- crying for help. Never was
The story that the graft paid
then1 a tiin«“ in Portland’s history
when tlicr«“ was such a scarcity of to the police o f New York by
workingmen who are not afraid gambling-houses and oilier illegal
to work.
resorts amoiintcil in tin* last year
Harvesting Heavy Crops.
to $2,4tM).(l(M) is startling, but not
These conditions ar«1 likely to incredible. If gambling is car-
continue until late in the fall or ricil on systematically and i-ontin
until the heavy grain am) fruit tioiisly in any city, it is a e«*rtain-
crops «if the Northwest an* har ty that, there is organized graft.
vested.
While employ«*rs ami If «liaonlerly houses run semi-
agents of employers nrc unable to opi nly, and in known defiance of
promis«! steady work through the law. it is also clear that there is
entire winter, th«“y assiir«“ the men graft. If thieves and pickpockets
whom they are hiring that tb«“ir of known record infest a town an<'|
«“tnployincnt, will be steady enough ply tbi'ir traile without molesta
ami lucrative enough that they tion, it may bo taken for granted
will hav«“ abundant means, when that, they are operating under po
tin* work ceases, to carry them lice protection.
The gambler is a parasite and a
through the rainy season.
Here in Portland contractors on lawbreaker, but first of all he is a
striMjt. improvement projects are «•oward. He will not open his
begging for help. A similar scale games unless he is assured of po
of wages prevails. In some «piar- lice favor, or knows that raiils are
tern improvements actually are to be periodical and spurious. II«'
(Continued on page 4.)
seriously delayed on account of
(
t