THE DAIJjES WEEKLY CHRONICLE, FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1892. GERRYMANDER CRAZE. Very Popular Style This Year for Pre sents Districts. NEW YORK, M1SSIOURI AND OHIO A Refined System of Political Theft on . Both Party Sides. &OMKTH1NG JERRY MIGHT ADMIKI t luRliinr and Defiant Raids Upon the .Elector' Privilege In Certain '. .' State. .Washington, June 13. The gerry wander was never apparently more pop ular than it is this year. In Missonn the democrats applied it to the reap portionment of the state into congres sional districts with a sweet disregard. for decency and common fairness. A few weeks later the republicans of Ohio followed the Missouri example and pro vided for the ruthless disfranchisement of democrats. Although the latter in the coming election are reasonably cer tain to poll about half of the total vote they will probably elect less than a third of the congressional delegation from that state. "The'. republicans,' polling sub stantially the otlier halt ot the total vote. will get the rest. New York then fell a victim to this refined system of political -theft. Her democratic legislature nnap)ied out a plan of electoral brigand' age which the late Mr. Gerry, were he alive to see it, would be compelled to admire the advancement of his idea. It vninprehends a dashing and defiant raid on republican rights, and will enrich the democratic road agents with the spoil of half a dozen seats in congress that in justice belong to the other party. This plan may differ in detail from the ac .complisbed work of the Missouri and Ohio artists in political spoliation; but in principle it is the sar.ie. It is thor- -ouglily bad and intolerably offensive to ' the spirit of our institutions. Yet it passes practically unchallenged, save by those whom it proposes to despoil, and their voice is raised against the injury rather than against the vicious system. But the gerrymander must go. Its con tinuance is a menace to popular govern ment and a standing invitation to revo lution. It nullifies the citizen's fran chise and stifles his voice in public affairn. It encourages" political trusts I and strengthens the hands of the boss -and his heelers. I'se of Search Light. Washington, June 13. One of the most effective means of protecting a ship in these days of torpedos, is the group ing together of a number of stationary search lights, each illuminating its own section so that the ship is surrounded by Tin unbroken circle of light. It Is to be adopted in the new American warships. "This has been suggested by a very pro nounced defect in the usual search light practice. In order to afford sufficient time for :v careful examination of the water's surface at points removed from the ship, the beam of light must be re volved very slowly, and hence during a great portion of the time any particu lar section of the water is left in dark less. As it takes only five minutes for - torpedo boat to run a distance of two miles, it will be seen that the condi tions are all in favor of the attacking force. . Before the revolution of the -search light is completed there is plenty -of time for the torpedo boat to run . up yuid discharge her deadly weapons. Apparently Unrelated Phenomena.. Washington, June IS. Now that Bol ivia is on the eve of a revolution, savants think it might be worth while for some of our scientific people to conduct a series of observations in South American revolutions.' Chile, Brazil (2), Venzuela, Colombia, Bolivia, with Peru, Argen tine, Uruguay and Patagonia yet to hear from. Simultaneously with these dis turbances came an exceedingly large sun spot, an eight tailed comet, the oc cultation os Jupiter, ditto of Venus, nd the reappearance of that plumed political comet, J. G. B., whose orbit and motions generally are so uncertain. It is possible that some connection may be discovered to exist between one or more of these apparently unrelated phenomena. Death of Mrs. Hodgkin. Salem Journal. The announcement of the death of Mrs. Hodgkin, wife Hon. Frank E, Hodgkin, assistant state treas urer, which occurred in this city on Turs day, will be received with profound sorrow by many friends who learned to Appreciate her excellent qualities 'of liead and heart during the residence in (Portland. Mrs. Hodgkin was a native of Oregon, borit on the fifth of July, 1852, in the beautiful Waldo hills, near Salem. She, was a daughter of Hon . Bice Dunbar, one of the best known of the early pioneers of Oregon, and a sister of Judge W. Jt. Dunbar, of Goldendale, and of ' Hon. U. 0. Dnnbar, associate justice of -the supreme court of Washington.' Free Ballot and Fair Count. Tlie late election has demonstrated that the Australian ballot system cannot alwava secure' a free ballot or a fair count, even in the city in The Dalles, As a proof of this statement, it is only necessary to refer to the case of Trevitt precinct in this city, where a free-born American citizen cast a legal ballot, and the Board of Elections refused to count said ballot. It is asserted by the members of said board that the ballot was illegal because the printed names were erased and the elector filled the blank spaces. If the board will examine section 49 of the election law, it provides that the elector shall have the privilege, and hence ig norance or positive refusal to permit any ballot that is not in harmony with their own preconcerted views, to have any force must have ruled in the decis ion. But ignorance of the law does not excuse the most illiterate, much 'less should it excuee those who had been ap pointed to this work for-several months and made no preparation thereof. Such boards of election that fail to prepare for their duties should be de prived of their pay for such service and since they are appointed to serve for two years, they should be impeached or asked to resign. Now as to the "tree ballot." It seems that unless a man votes just what the old parties of this county dictate, then every means is put forth to injure him in his business or profession. This is ballot box stufiiing with a vengeance. Is this true of our city? What are the evidences? Your scribe did not vote the straight republican ticket and as a result, every nook and corner is searched and the people informed that "he is a hypocrite for he voted the whisky ticket straight," when the fact is that the bal lot was so straight against the whisky traffic that it was suppressed in the count. Again, the same parties repre sent that your scribe voted against the only religious parties on both tickets, but the facts are these : "That ballot contained the names of twelve religious persons and not one of my opposers can say that they voted for more than three." Then what does it all mean? Simply this. You can vote and have it counted so long us you vote what tlie ring dic tates but the independent vote is a dis turbing element in politics and must be suppressed in the count and slaughtered in business life. But as a free Ameri can citizen, I propose that my rights as a suffragist shall be recognized, and if it is already settled that voting the old party ticket or banishment from thel city is a requisite, I prefer banishment If not, then I demand that my ballot at the last election be accorded the same privilege and treatment that was ac- corded to those who voted the old party tickets. . On this dem'and I stand or fall with the people of The Dalles. What shall the answer be? A. C. Hpexcek. . Telegraphic Flabe. Losses by the Havana floods this week aggregate '$500,000. At Silver city, Idaho, yesterday dur ing an electrical storm the home of William H. Derry was struck by light ning. Mrs. Derry and two others were seriously injured by the bolt. A crevasse occurred in the bank of the Mississippi above St. James parish Mon day. A large force is at work trying to stop the breaks. The river Danube is on a rise. The town of Raab, sixty miles northwest of Buda l'estli is isolated from tbe sur rounding country by the flood. Terrific thunder storms prevailed in many parts of Spain on Sunday. At' Burgos the famous old cathedral founded in 1221 was seriously injured. At Mu cientes a church filled with worshipers was struck ; five being killed and ten hurt.. At Melias there was a similar oc currence, and one was killed and twenty eight hurt seriously. . Carnegies' men at the homestead steel works, 3,000 strong, have until the 24th instant to decide whether or not they will accept a scale of wages which, they claim will reduce their earning capacity from ten to 40 per cent. They have not formally rejected the new scale, but no person expects them to accept it, hence one of the most bitter contests between labor and capital in recent years is ex pected to begin. It is reported that George Y. Massey, of Delaware, who so strongly advocated the interests of President Harrison at Minneapolis has been officially notified that he will receive the judgeship on the supreme bench made vacant by the death of Justice Bradley. Early Monday morning Acainpo, Cal., was visited by the severest thunder storm in its history. Lightning struck a barn badly damaging it and killing two pigs. Considerable rain fell during the storm. No New Plank Bat. Astorian. There are no new planks in the republican platform, for the reason that no new issues have been evolved by congress or any other ' agency. - It is a clear, straightforward declaration. Astoria will approve cordially the plank, which says, "we favor the extension of our foreign commerce, the restoration of our mercantile marine by home built ships and the creation of a navy for the protection of our national interests and the honor of our flag.". WAR ON THE CHINESE, i Gotuoinites; Against tie Celestials as 'I Never Before. V LEAD BY THE WOMEN'S' LEAGUE A Cyclone of' Public Hatred to Drive John ont of Town. PROMINENT CHVRCH PEOPLE IN IT. The City to be Districted and Worked for all 'There i in it, a Vlfrl ' lenee Committee. Chicago,- June 13. New York city has set a precedent to combat the vices of the Chinese criminal element, which must sooner or.later be considered else where. This crusade has been started by labor organizations, and it is their purpose to arouse against the Mongolian such a cyclone of public hatred as will drive him from the town. At the bot tom of the movement is the well-known leader of the Women's National League, and it is she who has brought the mat ter before the Central labor union, and that organization has enlisted as coad jutors many prominent church people and men and women who take to them selves the duty of reforming the wicked of Gotham. All these elements of re form arc consolidated under the "New York anti-Chinese League. The city will be divided into inspection districts corresponding to assembly districts, and to each there will be assigned three' in spectors, to le known as a vigilance committee. It is to be the duty of each committee to watch the Chinese in its respective district, and ascertain to what extent they are corrupting youth , and to ferret out the opium joints,, and learn where opium is being vended. They are to report each week to the executive committee of the league, who will re duce the information to legal form, and prepare affidavits setting forth specific charges against the' Chinese. It is in tended to keep up this work for three months, at the end of which time proper steps will be taken to bring the matter before the local authorities. Letting; Oregon Down Eaiy. Chicago, June 13. According to an order issued from Director Davis, Satur day was tbe limit of time for state com missions to accept sites and present plans' for their state worlds fair build ings. In some eases the recent organi zation of the commission has rendered impossible a literal compliance with the order, but up to the close of business at 5 o'clock thirty-four states were in, line. OneVtialf of the states beginning with the letter Or (Ohio) is included- in the list. California and Washington, of the Pacific coast states, are also included. Idaho is ready to go ahead with work on its state headquarters as soon as some little objection to the site assigned can be remedied. Altogether' the showing is taken to-indicate wide-spread interest in the-state-branch of exposition work. Sonaid- American Policy. Astorian, The folly ot Cleveland and his adherents on tbe Times and evening Post in trying to fight the McKinley tariff here-,, when it has just won so splendid a triumph over the official free trader? of England is simply political madness. - Lord Salisbury's speech, when it is fully understood by the American people, will kill Cleveland's chances as effectually as his free trade message did four years ago. ' It has been the fixed policy of the United States,! ever since tbe revolutionary war, tnatt what is good for England must be bad for this . republic and what is bad for England must be to our advantage, The MeKinley tariff has injured Eng land as greatly as H has benefitted us. Therefore it is sound American policy. Increase in Circulation. ' A considerable net increase, .amount ing to over $6,000,000, is shown in the volume of circulation for the month, just elapsed. According to the treasury's monthly statement, the total circulation on June 1 amounted to f 1,620,010,229, an increase 'fit over $1,115,000,000 for the year. There has. been decreases under the heads of United States notes, natio nal bank notes, standard Jsilver dollars and subsidiary silver, and increases in the items of treasury silver notes, gold certificates and currency certificates. The per capita circulation , is estimated by the treasury's accountants at $24.77, which represents a slight increase lor the month, a little in excess of the in crease noted a month ago for the month of April. ' . , The next Oregon state legislature will stand : Senate Republicans 18, Demo crats 12 ; House Republicans 36 ; Demo crats 24. .... The Minneapolis convention has de monstrated that lung power cannot nominate presidents. - GREAT WATER CRAFT. Confidence Heine Kestored in Favor of i . .Water Transportation. For many years, becahee of the power ful combination of the railways against water craft of any kind, steamboats in tanost portions of America have actually become a curiosity. . Anybody who has ever taken the least trouble to Inquire, could not help but be satisfied that, as against water transportation, railways are not in it. But the railways havo succeeded, in almost everv instance, in driving traffic off wherever they came in conflict with water transportation. This has been the case on our own noble Col umbia, one of the finest water routes in the known world, but .an open river is soon to come, now ; and thence and for ever the scenes of life and activity will bring to mind the forlorn hope of the past, and the joyous development of a country superior in any respect, to any similar scope of countrytm the face of the globe. Yesterdays' dispatches re ferred to the launch of a lake steamer at Chicago which is to carry 3,000 tons of! wheat. The Buffalo Courier speaks of two transports, to be eaiployed across lake Michigan from Kewanee to Luding ton, to carry twenty -eight loaded freight cars each trip, 50 miles, two trips a day each, which, means that their daily traf fic shall amount to 112 cars of freight. From Ludington the freight trains will be taken by the Flint and Pere Marquette line to Detroit or Toledo, whence their cargoes will be carried by lake to the Lackawanna, in Buffalo. It is a bold idea," says the Railway Age, "but it is practical, and if it proves anything, proves that the railways,- in stead of bankrupting themselves to bankrupt and drive off water transporta tion, must avail themselves of such facilities in order to succeed, and wliere- ever a railway parallels a route available for water transportation to any consid erable degree, the water route must be utilized in preference to the nil rail route." This snits the Columbia river exactly, from The Dalles to Astoria. Lake Michigan is a treacherous water. and considerable risk will be involved in ferrying across it, especially in winter when ice abounds,, none of which ob jections applv to the Columbia river route. The peoples' boats, the Dalles City and Regulator, have made great in roads during the short time thev have been running to show where the difler ance comes in between mutual benefit home corporations, and a grinding mon opoly, concerning whieh tbe Klickitat Leader truthfully says : M$y tbe temporary tie up of the Reg ulator those that have to ship to or from Portland find that they have to dig deeper down in their poekets than they care about. The farmers will want their wheat shipped this fall. No one can deny but that through the reduced rates of the-Regulator last fall! they received an unprecedented high price for wheat, which- made them come back smiling to their farms. What would they have re ceived had not the peoples' boat been in competition with tlie railroad? Why, they would have received from ten " to twelve cents less for every bushel of wheat they sold. Is this not proof pos itive that for a number oi years the rail road monopoly extracted every cent possible from the farmers-? The farmers were-- far from unanimous last fall in thefr support to the Regulator. Those thatdid not trouble then to aid the new company in their laudable and manly enterprise should pledge themselves to support this commendable boat. In shipping by the Union Pacific you ' are going against your own individual in terests, and at the same time supporting this uncompromising monster of a mo nopoly. Do not let them lure you into cheap rates by way of Grants, but let the farmers of Klickitat eenie out unani mously and patronize the peoples' boats this fall, even if those living in the up per part of tbe valley have to haul a lit tle further than usual. . The Port of Astoria. v Astorian. No one who studies the map ofCthe United States can donbt that Astoria is destined to-be a great city. Our pert is the outlet for a region of vast extent and great productiveness. While the Atlantic seaboard! has many ports, the one great port of the Pacific coast is Astoria. San Francisco is the port of California and holds an enviable posi tion, as such. But Astoria is the port of that great region which 'extends south ward to Colorado and- eastward to Mon tana, and Kansas- Nebraska and the- Dakotas. The greater part of each of these States is as near Astoria as New York. Our own and other states of tho far west are stilt largely undeveloped. TTheir present productiveness is small compared with whalT more labor and more capital could accomplish. In pro portion as the development of the states goes on, so will Astoria advance- in wealth and commerce. Their surplus products will eome here for shipment, and to this port will return the merchant men laden with, valuable cargoes from Europe, the Indies, China and Japan. A storm in Chicago yesterday, at 3 p. m., accompanied by terrific thunder and lightning and torrents of rain and hail did immense damage. An idea of the force of the wind may be gleaned from the fact that a six inch timber was driven endwise through a box car. Armour's elevator, was struck by lightning and completely wrecked. The storm was duplicated at 9 :30 p. m. RUINSATMAREISLAND. A HorriDle Spectacle Follows Disaster at tlie Magazine. . TWELVE PERSONS ARE KILLED, Bodies afe Mangled and Thrown 200 v 1 Yards From The Scene. AN ' KAKTHQITAKK CONCUKSION Budies Thrown Into tbe Bajr . Kecorered by Boat! From Mill on The Op posite Side. S.x Fkancisco, June 14. People at Vallejo were startled yesterday morning about 11 o'clock by a report which shook the town like an earthquake. - Im mediately the fire bells in the yard wero rang, and the conclusion reached was tha,t there was a fire on Mare Island, down at tbe magazine, that belched forth into the skv an immense cloud of smoke. As soon -as it was high enortgh the peoples eyes wereturned thither, and for half an hour after report. after report was heard as the shells exploded. Im mediately the entire navy-yard force rushed for the scene and when true facts came to light a horrible scene presented itself. The first spectacle to greet the eyes was the burned and charred bodies of two apprentice seamen on the beach, 800 yards from the scene of the explosion. In the meantime one more body of a seamen was on the way to the hospital. Going further on to tbe scene a horrible sight met the gaze. Amidst the ruins and all around on the sidebills were seen bodies and pieces of bodies scattered here and there. The bodies were taken out as fast as possible, and . when all were put along . side each other they counted twelve. Some were rut in two, others minus a leg or arm or head. Twelve were killed outright, and three were taken to the hospital wounded, but dying. Two of these were the appren tices picked up on the beach. The ex plosion had thrown them into the bay, and a boat from a mercliant-man at Starr mills, on the opposite side, rescued them-and went on to the smoke and ruins for the others. The cuiticle of almost the entire bodies of these two, as well as their clothes,-were blown off, and yet they were conscious and were able to move, but will die. . ' Southern Sentiment. Wasiijkotox, June 14. There is no doubt that the democratic politicians of the southern states regard the coming presidential contest as of the very great est importance to them. They believe that the fate of the south and of south ern institutions, as they are pleased to term existing social conditions, are in volved in. the result of November. . They believe that unless the democrats-succeed in the contest next fall the republicans will pass a force bill that will practically reverse political majorities in the- south and give to tbe blacks and their white political' allies a permanent ascendency in the various southern states. Believ ing this,, southern action in regard to presidential candidates will not be due in any great degree to affection or dis like for any aspirant. .The southerners are not looking for a man 'on whom to lavishadmiration and favor, but for a man who can win.' Sentiment for once in the sentimental south is held rigidly in abeyance. The necessities of the oc casion have come to the front. Judged by this standard, southern action in the convention ef Jnne 21st, may be re garded as extremely uncertain and not likely to be- controlled by caprice or en thusiasm. It may brine about unex pected results. " The Worst Tet. . Waits berg Times: Since oar advent in. the newspaper business we haveencount- ered many adversities, some of them sorely trying; almost intolerable. We have had the misfortune on more than one occasion to have forme pied ; hare had our roller melted by aeareless devil; have had our engine "go off" on us ; have bad belts , to break and governors to fly off, and once a sow came along and bit off the end of our roller just after we had carefully washed it, and whiiie we were waiting for it to. dry. The latest and tbe worst was the destruction of our copy by the mice, after the paste upon it. Galva, a town m Illinois, 45 miles north of Peoria, was wrecked last Tues day evening by a eyclone. Several per sons are known to be killed. The town is entirely cut off from telegraphic com munication with the rest of the world, and the information comes from train men. They reported the Burlington and Quincy roundhouse, Rock Island depot and many other buildings destroyed. All the- churches were more or less wrecked, and Hoyes' pump and planter works badly damaged. Buckinghams Dye for the Whiskers is a popular preparation in one bottle, and colors evenly a brown or black. - Any person can easily apply it at home. LKTTER FROM THE DALLES. Report of Mr. Clark C Porr on HI ObserTatloaa Here ' We have been permitted to copy the following from a letter to Mr. Win. Hen derson, of . Saginaw, Mich., from Mr Clark U. foster, who is hereon a tour of observation. Mr. Foster says : "Remembering my promise to write you a few lines while on the Pacific coast, I may state that I arrived at The Dalles about two weeks ago and have since had a very pleasant time in seeing and visiting places that are both novel and interesting to me. On arriving here, we were received by the Rev. Mr.Tay lor, wno has been so thoughtiui ot our entertainment that I think we shall often find ourselves recalling places and scenes that would certainly be incom plete were not the kindly presence of Mr. Taylor the central figure of them. "I have spent several days in visiting the beautiful orchards and vineyards of the Columbia river fruit company, and although my expectations ran high, I was not prepared for the very agreeable surprise that was 111 store for me, as the vast yield of fruit this season and thrP rapid progress which the vines are mak ing on those sunny hillsides is simply marvelous. The climate, the soil and the locality are all that could be desired for a great enterprise like that which this strong company is rapidly bringing to a successful development, and I have no doubt but that the time Is not far distant when many of the states in the union will receive largely of their fruit supplies from this much favored section. I could write vou page after page on such industries as' salmon fish eries, wool growing, stock raising and the fine agricultural country surrounding this place, but I feel that they would be too voluminous for me to undertake to tell yon of, in a letter, and I therefore prefer to wait uutil we can draw our chajrs together and talk them over at our leisure. "One of the . things which gives me great faith in this place, and Grand, Dalles, on the opposite side of the river, is that they are the key or the gate-way of the whole country for a distance of about 200 miles back on both sides of the Columbia, and all of its product and supplies either are,, or must be, shipped or received at these two points. The Interstate improvement company, by wise fpresight,. has recognized this fact and is now offering inducements on Grand Dalles property that are far be yond the ordinary, to manufacturers and those who mean business. In my opin ion, The-Dalles and Grand Dalles are destined-to become cities ot great com mercial importance, and those who now invest in either of these places wilt have invested wisely and well. I am well acquainted with the gentlemen of the interstate company and can speak of them as men of honor and great business ability. "Hoping this, will find you well, and with kind regards to friends at home, I remain,. Yours very truly," Clakk Ct Foster. CHOPS WEATHER. KCLLKTIN. For the Week Ending. June I. 189, Eastern Oregon. Weather.: Cool and. partly cloudy weather prevailed with general . showers on tbe 10th. The rainfall varied from 06 oS an inch to one half inch. Crops : More rain is- greatly needed.' The wheat prospects were never better up to May 20th, which, could be repre sented by 110 while now they are down to from 60 to 70, raiia inside the next wee 14 would raise the prospects 10 points! or more. Volunteer wheat is about a failure. In Umatilla, Morrow, Sher man, Gillian and Wasco counties the wheat was damaged .ey the hot winds of May and some fieldswfll not be worth catting. Spring gratia was also injured by the frosts on the 2d inst. in many localities. v In Union, Wallowa and a few interior counties the conditions are more encouraging amd far. better ; excel-" lent prospects prevail in the Grand Ronde valley where wheat and fruit promise large yiaMe.- The rain on the 10th, was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The wheat proepectart cer tainly gloomy bo, yet it may become better by the occurrence of seasonable rains. Rye hay is being cut and yield ing two tons to the acre. The frosts killed tender plants about Fort Klam ath, on. the 2d. The frs.it prospects are better than they are in western Ore gon. Sweet corn will be ripeaboutThe Dalles withia two weeks. ' Rivers : The Colombia river fell but is now rising again, but several of its tributaries have passed theirf neatest rise and are now falling and! will continue to fall. B. Sv Paguw.. Madly Broken Vp. Klamath Star. The ticket-fixer is arf badly broken up as the tail of a dog on der a cart-wheel. He howls no more afl the polls, nor does he "fix", .your tiokel anv more. The Australian ballot IaJ has run over him, and what there is let of him wouldn't be noticed by a hen oH a manure pile. His whiskey-ladei; breath, like himself, is down, in thd mouth, and his "pull" is a tug at thd oars on the Salt, river ferry boat. . . Th precincts are now as orderly and peace ful as a ladies' auction, and the peopl go and vote in secret and in the jres ence of their God only. Hurrah for tb Australian ballot law.