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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1908)
r1 y NUMBER 57. LACHANDE, TOIOK COCMTX, OREGOK, "MONDAY, DECEMBER I, IMS. VOLUME VIII. ri I 1 I 1 - f m V ' --7 I I 1W I W II , 1 V II. I I ' lf I TRUE LICIT Oil ROBERTS AFFAIR EXACT AMOUNT OF THE SHORTAGE STILL UNKNOWN Investigation mid Probing of Local Land Office Books By Experts Is the ' Result of Roberts Calling Expert Hero Rim Thousands to Meet the Shortage Willi Has Not Been Drinking A Physical and Mental Wreck Publicity Over-estimated. One more La Grande's reputation lias been stained with rumors ot fraud on the part of a public official but this time, as far as The Observer Is able to ascertain, the reports In circu lation are over-estimated, and not a - cent of money has been willfully pur lolned, nor Is A. A. Roberts' character ' blackened by the combination of cir cumstances that point' to his guilt. There Is a shortage in the accounts of Receiver A. A. Roberts at the United States land office, but at this time the exact amount of It Is unknown. Even the government expert, D. A. Dun ning, has no definite Idea of the fends involved, though it Is placed at any figure between 1700 and $1500. True enough, this figure may be far below the actual shortage, but It is not be lieved likely. Expert Dunning Is still here and is reaching the end of his Inspection as quickly as possible. ; Shortage is Covered. That arrest and prosecution are to follow the self-willed discovery of a mixed state of affairs In the office books, is scoffed at here. At any rate, there are thousands of dollars now on hand to-' cover shortages as fast as they appear to the expert. When Mr. Roberts private fortune of $10,000 Is xhausted, If such a thing should be come a fact, then relatives worth three times that much will step to the front with aid. Thus far Mr. Roberts' own account alone has ; been called I ARRI Out Full Line of New Dolls, j Toys and novelty Xmas goods Will be on Display Tomorrow j "Satisfaction or Your Money Back upon. The "St raight Story. Once again it U The Observer that throws the correct light on the sad mixture of facts and circumstances as far as Mr. Roberts, the balance of the' lihil' iSWice' torct'., or'eV 6i"'CA in spector knows at this time. As usual, of coruse, the expert is badly handi capped when It comes to talking. He "knows nothing," he says, for he has not yet reached a solution. Robert Call Inixvtor. . That which points mottt strikingly to the assertion that the entire fracas is the result of careless bookkeeping and not willful robbery. the 'act that Mn Roberts called in the Inspector as soon as he noticed a shortage. But before doing this he drew a private check to cover the deficit It is point ed out that It would be the height of folly for Roberts to turn the inquiring eyes of the department on, his short comings if he had stolen the money. . now It Happened. When Roberts took the oath of of- (Continued on page I.) ATTEMPTS BANK HOLDUP AT ELLENSBURG, ALONE NERVY ATTACK ON OFFICERS OF ELLENSBURG, WASH., RNK Unmasked and Alone, Robber De mands Sacks of Money lu Front of Cashier That Individual Refuses ' Bullet Fired, Injuring Cashier A Posse Is Pursuing Robber. Ellensburg, Wash., Dec. 7. A dar ing attempt was made by an Un masked bandit to hold, up the First National Bank of this city this morn lng, shortly after opening of the doors. The bandit demanded 1 CV stacks of gold and silver In trr.-S of the assistant cashier, who refused it. The bandit fired a shot at him, the bullet piercing his arm. He escaped, waving his revolver. A possee Is in pursuit of the man. V ED! ft e STORE BLAZETHREATEHS BOTE T OREGON HOTEL AT PORTLAND HAS SERIOUS BLAZE SUNDAY. eBssassBSBsaiBBBi .Mr. and Mrs. Braniwcll Have Narrow Escape From Asphyxiation In Ore gon Hotel at Portland Grope About In , Blackened - Corridors Many , Wildly Excited Mrs. Bramwell Is Almoftt Overcome From Fumes Low Heavy None of Guests In jured. . To be face to face with death from asphyxiation Is the harrowing experi ence which Receiver and Mrs. F. C. Bramwell and family went through yesterday morning about 8 o'clock, when the corridors of the Oregon ho tel In Portland, was suddenly convert ed into a veritable smokestack that for a time was so serious as to be ex trmely alarming. Mr. Bramwell was gasping for breath and Mrs. Bramwell was nearly exhausted when finally the party emerged In open air, fol lowing a few minute real danger in the smoke-filled halls and elevator shafts. Awakened by Shouts. Mr. and Mrs. Bramwell were asleep In their room on the third floor ' the Oregon, when shouts from the hall awoke them. Mr. Bramwell rushed to the door, feeling certain that fire was threatening their lives or else an In sane person ran" amuck In the corri dors. When he opened the door It was to find a fellow-being groping about searching for a rope and calling for assistance. The corridor was filled to suffocation with a smoke that had the mell and effect on the throat of burn- 'U'rags- . A vaent later the Portland fire ue-0- tnent dashed up to the build ing and Mr. Bramwell was doubly sure that a blaze of a greater or less degree of severity, was threatening the hostelry. Instructing his wife and child to dress quickly, Mr. Bramwell located the elevator shaft by reason of an In timate knowledge of his bearings, and called for the elevator. Throwing (Continued from page . CHAMBERLAIN TO SPEAK. Oregon, Washington and Bay State Ably Represented at Convention. Washington, Dec. 7. The national capital Is this week to entertain more distinguished men than ever before in Its history. Besides congress, the sev eral great conventions with the im provement and conservation of natur al resources as the general object In vjew, Taft presides tomorrow at a formal Joint conservation conference, , and Roosevelt will make the opening address. Governor Chamberlain speaks in behalf of the governors, j Definite plans for the Improvement of waterways and harbors on the Pa cific coast, will be urged on congress j by the National Rivers and Harbors, congress. Former Governor Pardee of California, Dr. N. O. Blalock of Walla Walla, Wash., and A. H. Devers of Oregon will present plans for the Improvement of rivers and harbors In their regions. I c W. G. Peach, a pioneer of the Grande Ronde valley, died this morn- j lng at 5 o clocK at nis nome near in land City, of Bright disease, follow ing a lingering Illness of three years, but a more acute and painful sickness of three months. In his demise, the County fdees one of the hardy type Of men who helped make Union county what It Is, for he came here In 1873 and has made his continuous residence here since that time. In 1853 he came to California from his birth state. Vermont, and 20 years later moved to Uirion county. PEACH LAST SESSIOII OF BOTH 1ICRESS (1 OUilli.lLU, HOUSE AND SENATE CON VENED AT 12 O'CLOCK. About 10 Senators Are Sitting for the Laat Tline Slight Paue In Hilarity .When Death Vacancies Are Called Attention to 221 Republicans and . . ... .' ICS Democrats lit the Hou.se Sen ate Largely Republican Hale Pro nounces Prayer. ' Salient Points. Session Final of (0th. 11 Opens December 7. Closes March 4. . Senate Republicans, 61; dem- 4 ocrats, 31. Total, 2. House Republican, 221; dem- .ocrats, 168; vacancies, 2. To- tal, 31. Washington, Dec. 7. With a ser ies of resounding whacks of a mahog any mallet wielded by Uncle Joe Can non and three gentle taps of an Ivory gavel in the hands of Vice-President Fairbanks the house end senate open ed today for the final session of the 60th congress. Whereupon the solons formally got ready for the business of deciding how Uncle Sam may best spend a billion odd dollars next year. An hour before the beginning of the session the galleries were packed. A large majority of spectators were wo men, and they were arrayed in the latest fashions. Their presence and their finery were due to the fact that custom has made, the capital on open ing days of congress- a show place. .,. At least ten senators are starting to day on their last term, of duty. .;'" '. .On the other hand there are'nearly twice as many who are receiving con gratulations on the apparently sure Indications that they would be re elected or upon the accomplished fact. Amid all the handshaking, the ex change of congratulations or of con dolence,' it was evident that the sena tors felt death keenly of one of their number. This was brought promi nently to their attention later when a resolution was offered and adopted in memory of late . Senator William B. Alllnson of Iowa. Those senators who are probably beginning their last terms today are Ankeny of Washington, For aker of Ohio, Fulton of Oregon, Hans borough of North Dakota, Hemmen- way oi luuimm, aiui lutj e oi bouiii Dakota, Long of Kansas, McCreary ot Kentucky, Piatt of New York, and Teller of Colorado. ' iThose whose re-election has already been accomplished or seem sure, are: Brandagee of Connecticut, Clarke of Arkansas, Clay of Georgia, Dilling ham of Vermont, Galllnger of New Hampshire, Gore of Oklahoma, Hey burn of Idaho, Hopkins of Illinois, Lattlmer of South Carolina, Mclner ny of Louisiana, Newlands of Neva da, Overman of North Carolina, Pen rose of Pennsylvania, Smoot of Utah, Stevenson of Wisconsin. Stone of Mis souri. The latter and Brandagee have a fight on their hands. Vice-President Fairbanks, who will retire March 4, was early on the scene.. He was all urbanity and smiles. After the opening prayer by the venerable chaplain, Edward Ever His age at time of death, was 75 years, 1 month and 23 days. He leaves four children to mnurn his death, his wife havlnrr d several years ago. The living children are: James and George TVach, Mrs. Mary Young and Mrs. Angle Van Tress. All of these eXcepCMrs. Toung. ilVe here. Mrs. Young lives in Manitoba, Cana da. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at" :30 from the Peach home, and at 11 o'clock from the Is land City c'.iurcht with Interment In the Ptach cemetery near Island City. IIEER ett Hale, and the roll call, the three customary resolutions which mark the beginning of a new session, were adopted. . The first fixed the hour of dally meetings at noon. The second direct fcf Nfy' M ;ftirr tho:lVftj!r that the senate was in session, and the third authorized the vice-president to appoint a committee to Join the the committee appointed by .th house to notify the president that the con gress wss ready to receive any mes sage he might wish to send. Senator Dolliver then rose. In sim ple words he depicted the grlet which he and the other members of the Iowa delegation felt at the death of. his col league. He offered a resolution ex pressing the deep sense of the .senate In the loss that It had sustained. The senate, adopted the resolution and ad journed until tomorrow. Governor Albert B. Cummins of Iowa, the chosen successor of the late Senator Alllnson, will probably be sworn In at tomorrow's session.. Scores (Continued on page .) ROOSEVELT TOUCHES BUTTON AND SHOW IS ON FIVE MILLION DOLLARS REPRESENTED BY DISPLAY Great Event From Apple Growers' Viewpoint, Is Now In Full Swing at Spokane Button at ' Washington Opens Affair Hood River Is Not Represented In Display. V Spokane, Dec. 7. The National Apple Show opened In this city today at 10:20, by President Roosevelt touching the button at the White House. Louis W, Hill made a formal opening address, foUowed by Mayor Moor and F. E. Goqdall, president of" the chamber of commerce. Five million dollars In fruit are displayed. Hood River, the famous, Is not rep resented In the display, due to a dis agreement over points . in grading. Hood River had a splendid exhibit ready for shipment, but withdrew it on learning of the adopted basis for scoring. : Fruitgrowers 'from the Pacific northwest espelcally, ate pouring Into Spokane to attend at least a portion of the feature meetings. Fountain pens, the very best made. They will make UBeful Christmas pres ents and can be had at Silverthorn & Mack's.'), . ; ' Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 7. Char-, acterlzing his enemies as character assassins, and declaring them the worst enemies of the labor, movement. President Lewis of the United Mine workers of America, In a statement today taunted the press, and announc ed his Intention of exposing them be fore the delegates at the next nation al convention. He says he will not at iTHEWAYOF MINERS' HEAD ANGRY AT HIS ENErdlES First: Drug it away; Second: Coax it away by the appli cation of heat. Heat relieves almost any pain, a d when it will answer it is the better remedy. Every home should contain a HOT WATER BOTTLE Heat can then be applied anywhere, at any time and in the most effective manner. If the bottle be wrapped in a wool en cloth it will remain hot for hours. Here are . few things a home can contain that will be more useful than this modern convenience. Those we have are made of the highest quality of Para Rubber, will lost for years and cos but little .... . ' ..- Mewlin Drug Co. La Grande, Ore. I eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'.eeeeeie FIRST PEEP AT 1ECBI! FIRST STEP OF GREATEST BOON WAS TAKEN TODAY. What Can Con-wrvatlvely Be Called the Greatest Transpiration to Take Place In Union County Since Man First Trod Here, Is Recorded ThU Morning Preliminary Survey No Being Run Ttrtplcd Wealth and Population the Goal. The first real step toward the goal that means tripled population of the city of La Grande, tripled and even quadrupled wealth In the valley, the first step that means the breaking up of large land holdings through the semi-arid sections of Grande Ronde valley and substituting tot mediocre wheat fields, money-making orchards all within a brief period of time was taken this morning when Engi neer Pickler and his assistants com menced the survey of the big vater ditch. In a casual manner, farmers look, in some Instances, on the coming of the great ditches conveying the life-gluing fluid to the dry land and water-needy products of the soil, as something worth while, all right, but hardly up to the standard claimed by the more optimistic promoters. But nothing of greater consequence has ever happen ed in this county In all its history of rapid development from a - barren plain to its present stage of progress that holds a comarlson to the com mencement of the preliminary survey this morning. Inquiries come from afar: "Are your going to land the Irrigation project?" Ti suph astheaelt can be, answered "Yes,? with all the fervor of certain ty. When , the preliminary lines are run, things' will liven up everywhere. ' . Committee Out Today. 1 . Simultaneously with the commence ment of the survey work, the solicit ing committee started out after the last half of the 20,000 acres of land re quired. That they will come back In a month with all, or practically all of It subscribed. Is a foregone conclusion for the populace is now waking up to what It means. With the proposed ir rigation a reality, La Grande and Union county Is on the doorstep of a new era an era of prosperity such a no nook or corner of. the northwest can duplicate. . - .- - ; ' . .:" ," - ' ' . I the' present name the ones to whom he refers, but the masks will be torn off at the next convention. He says: j "Too much time Is spenj In build , lng up the miners' organization to per mit selfish, prejudiced, personal ene mies to destroy it.' The mlneworkers will know the facts in due time. Those . attempting to Injure my name and reputation will pay the penalty." e-e