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!
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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."
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