mm
I
VOLUME IX
uA GRANDE. UNION COUNTY OREGON,
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1909.
NUMBER 47.
7,'Y r''-f
BALLINGER
PROBE SURE
BALLINGER HIMSELF PRESSES
CONGRESS TO LOOK
INTO RECORDS
ROME STATE WANTS THE
MATTER SIFTED THOROUGHLY
Du re Will be No Delay In Turning
The Department Records Topsy
Washington, Dec. 21. It was finally
determined today that there should be
a thorough Investigation of the ' so
called' Balllnger-Pinchot controversy.
Senator Flint today Introduced reso
lutions which . were adopted, calling
upon President Taft to turn over to
congress all reports, statements pur
porting to contain charges made by
L. R. C'.avls, former chief of the field
division of the land office against Sec
Tetary of the Interior Ballinger.
O After the resolution h&d teen adopt
T?d, Senator Jones of Washington read
before the senate a letter from Bal
linger demanding In the strongest
terms a thorough investigation of his
department, and that of the forest re
serve service. Senator Jones declared
that he would have offered a resolu
tion himself for the investigation im
mediate! j after holidays. v '
Senator Jones of Washington after
reading BUllnger's note in the sen
ate, declared that Ballinger did not
wish a whitewash. He said if the
charges made against him were true
that he was unfit to hold the office.
The people of the state of Washing
ton, he said, demanded this Investiga
tion, whether the. charges were true
or not. -
Rescue Hose MeV'flng
LKescue Hose Company No. i will
meet tonipht arid as there are mat
ters of importance, a full attendance
is riVsIred. , . v
CHRISTMAS IS NEAR. OUR STOCK HAS NEVES
BEEN LARGER OR CONTAINED SUCH A VARIETY
OF CHRISTMAS NOTIONS. THESE SUGGESTIONS
CONTAIN ARTICLES SUITABLE FOR MEN, WOME
AND CHILDREN. BUY EARLY. WE WILL LAY
YOUR PURCHASE ASIDE TO BE DELIVERED AT
ANY TIME YOU DESIRE.
Pocket knives, safety razors, shaving mugs "brushes, raz
ors and razor strops, fish baskets, shot guns, hunting coats,
moustache cups, cigar and tobacco jars. ; : ;
FORBOYS
. .Ice Skates, Express Wagons, Tricycles, Coaster Sleds,
Tools, 22-rifles, air guns etc. ; j
?'::;':v" FOR WOMEN!
. . Brass and China Candle Sticks, Table Cutlery, Manicure
Knives, Fruit Knives, Salad and Oyster Forks, Scissors,
Savory Roasters, Lisk Roasters, Crumb Trays," Carvers,
Game Shears, Fern Dishes, Hand Painted China. Japanese
China, Silverware, Cut Glass, Venitian Glass, Mayonaise
Mixers, Bread Mixers, Percolators, Baking Dishes, Fire
less Cookers.) ; ...
V FOR GIRLS.
Chaffing Dishes, Embroidery Scissors, Table Tennis,
Vases, Casters, Ice Skates, Cups and Saucers, Toy Irons,
Banks. ' '.-';
Lo
GRAFTING FAILS TO SAVE-
LIFE OF ELECTRICIAN
Walla Walla, Dec. 21. Reed Crews
the electrician who was bo terribly
burned here on October 23, by fall
ing oa the live wirea of the Northwest
ern Corporation sub-station, died of
hig wounds this, morning.
Crews made a great fight for his
life. His physicians grafted over 900
inches of skin which was donated by
350 people of Walla Walla.
ACT OX READING ROOM.
Mission Movement Pnt In the Rands
of a Committee Last Night.
A men's mission! room and reading
room is now in the hands of a com
mlttee consisting of Rev. Gray of the
the Baptist church and Ellis of the
Christian church. At the meeting call
ed at the Bautlst church S
for that purpose, the mission subject
was discussed at length. The commit
tee is now choosing a favorable loca
tion in the down town district where
a mission can be opened.
SYMPATHY
FREIGHT HANDLERS AND CLERKS
WILL JOIN STRIKE.
Large Territory Te Be Included
In
The New Turn of the Snlcbmens
" Troubles.
Minneapolis, Dec. 21. More than
2,000 freight handlers and railway
clerks that are now being employed
by the railroads of the Northwest will
go put on a strike In sympathy with
the members of the switcher.'? y''-.
according to a "statement made today
by II. B, Perham, - chairman of the
railway department of the American
"deration of Labor. The proposed
stilKe it ia reported, will extend over
the entire territory that is now being
affected by the switchmen's strike.
It i t ly
Win
STRIKE
125,000 FOR
DEPOSITORS
RECEIVER GETS PARCEL FOR
DEPOSITORS IN BANK
NOW DEFUNCT
WANTS IMMEDIATE CALL
FOR DIVIDEND CHECKS.
Farmers & Traders Checks Come For
Depositors Expectations Met
Means Considerable to Local '
People Just Now. .
Approximately $25,000 In the Bhape
of dividend checks reached La Grande
last night, from the comptroller of
the currency, and early this morning
Receiver Walter Niedner commenced
a rapid distribution of the Christmas
presents to the depositors . In the de
funct b .nk. The regular avenues
which the checks went through must
have been smooth ones for the receiv
er's prediction that the checks would
return here properly signed by De
cember 20, proved an accurate pne.
The checks represent a 10 per cent,
dividend to the up""tors.
In order to facilitate matters" it !s
important that depositors appear with
the receiver's certificate of deposit t-t
once and remove the checks. This is
Important from several standpoints.
All the i credentials that Is necessary
is the certificate of deposit Issued by
the receiver.
. With this amount of money dropp
ing in just previous to Christmas
many dollars will be put into circula
tion this week which otherwise would
mlBS the whirl of Christmas shopping
and Christmas buying.
Attempt at Lynching. -
v Belleville Ills. Dec.. 21. Sixteen
men are in jail here today following
an attempt at lynching of WUl Clark
a negro, who Is accused cC killing two
t!trret car platform men. Clark was
surrounded in the Jail by a special
guard which prevented the attempt at
lyncntng pee.
Silfi11'-
3
erstor HOLIDAY GOODS
SPELL DOOM
TO IIR. C00K
DANISH CONSISTORY FLATLY DE
NIES THAT DR. COOK
REACHED POLE
EXPLORER'S DOWNFALL IS
COMPLETE AND CONCLUSIVE,
Nothing In Ills Data to Warrant His
... Statemeat His Swwtn !;
Grieved and Claims More
la Otter Data,
. Copenhagen, Dec. 21. The commit
tee which have been investigating tho
data of Dr. Frederick Cook, today of
ficially reported to the consistory of
the University of Copenhagen that Dr,
Cook's records of dSaervallons Wer6
wholly insufficient to warrant the
verdict that the North Pole had been
discovered by the Doctor.
Discrediting of Dr, Cook was a se
vere blow to the Danish scientists,
who have stood firmly by him, giving
him their support under Commander
Peary's charf.es. ' '
When Dr. Cook first arrived in this
city he" was given a 'great reception,
and honors were paid him by both
high and low even including the King
who since has recalled somewhat open
ly his chagrin. It is well known that
the Danish experts were personally
inclined toward Dr. Cook, most of
them having come out with statements
subtantiatlng his claims.
Therefore this absolutly flat decis
ion against him is nil tho more con
vincing. It is believed that if the data
and records had provided any ground
whatever for the scientists to have
stood on that the scientists would
have held to, Vk Cook as . long as
there was any possible show. ,-
A member of the committee today
Said that it took the committee but a
few minutes to see that Dr. Cooks ob
servations and so-called records were
absolutely worthless. We- could have
reported . immediately, said he, but It
took us several days to recover from
ou surprise. The so-called note book
on which Dr. Cook relied to a great
extent for vindication had only the
arounts of his observations rather
than a record of the observations
themselves.' These note books were
thrown aside without a moment's con
sideration. "We can not understand
how a man with Dr. Cook's reputation
as a scientist, could have attempted
to bolster up his claims with such
stuff," said he.
Cook's private secretary, Lonsdale
who represented the explorer here, is
bitterly disappointed. He is makinv
every effort to have the consistory to
wlthold his final Judgment until the
whole of Cook's data is presented to
It Lonsdale told the committee that
the missing data, which was a part
of Cook's original documents, were
sent here from America by a different
route from that by which he came. He
claims that the additional data will
arrive In a few days. The "secretary
said the method of, sending the data
two different routes was adopted for
protection. Consistory refuses to pay
any attention to Lonsdale's appeal,
and the findings as announced today
have been declared as final as far r.s
the consistory Is concerned.
Perry Delighted.
Washington, Dec. 21. When shown
today's dispatches from Copenhagen,
Commander Peary said: "Three c.
four months ago from Labrador 1
sounded an explicit warning to the
world based upon complete and accu
rate information obtained regarding
Cook. In doin" so I accepted the re
sponsibility devolving upon me, and
fulfilled my duty to the world, myself.
Fight Pictures Tonight
Every one who enjoys clover boxing
will see the finest moving pictures
of a fight ever made when the Ketch-ell-Johnson
pictures are seen at the
Pastime tonight
The first performance was given at
1 p. m. today and ever since the doors
were opened a steady stream of sport
loving patrons has been pouring Into
the Pastime. All say that for clearness,
steadiness and all round high class
pictures, these have anything beat a
"Salt Lake block" seen in La Grande.
Tomorrow night "Facing the Music"
and Thursday night, the famous "My
Friend from India" will hold the
boards.
Wheat Contlnnrs IMk.
With wheat huglng the dollar mark
(n the Grande Ronde markets, there
Is but little sale, compared to the
amount which has changed hanOs
bere In the recent past. The price Is
constant however and fluctuates but
Tery mue.
FOUR DEGREES ABOVE ZERO
RECORD HERE LAST NIGHT
Registering four degrees above ze
ro lat uitcht, tire government mercury
machine operated by W A. Worstell
records that the cold snaD of last
evening was exactly as cold as the
coldest night this winter. During tho
present day the mercury never went
higher than 21 and at 2 o'clock had
reached 19 obove, going down rapidly.
The weather predictions say there
will be no change over the weather of
last night
Grane Is Home.
San Francisco, Dec. 21. Expressing
a belief that the Jeffries-Johnson fight
will be held in Salt Lake City, pro-
rroter Eddy Graney arrived yesterday
from New York. VI didn't get wnat
went atter," said the "honest blacksmith,-
"but I have no kick coming. I
put la what I consider a good bid for
the fight but other fellowa thought
differently, tbats an to it.
TELL STORY
REMARKABLE INCIDENTS RELAT
ED ::t EYE WITNESS OF
THE WRECK. .
Two T ailing Came Out Safe With the
Car In Which they were Riding
Reduced to Klndllngwood.
That the stockmen in the caboose
attached to the runaway freight yes
terday on the Kamela hill did not
know.of their precarious predicament.
is another of the startling features of
the wreck which has been the wonder
of all the Northwest where the news
has reached.
The men were conversing in the
caboose when the train started and
thinking that the engine was attached
paid no attention to It Soon they dis
covered the terrlffic speed at which
they were going down the hill, and
immediately commenced to "cuss" the
engineer. As the speed increased the
men became alarmed at their reck
less driving. Suddenly below, Meach-
am the train came to halt with 24 cars
in the ditch and the men then realiz
ed that they had been riding in a run
away train down a mountain side.
Car Tilted Edgewise.
So near derailment waB the caboose
according to ah eyewitness, that it
was tilted on , edge at an angle' of
about 45 degrees. Aside from unseat
ing the occupants of the car no re
semblance of injury was felt
Tramps Narrow Escape.
Two tramps had been stealing a ride
on the train and added their exper
ience to the others on the runaway.
At the time of, the smashup, the car
on which they were riding was so
completely converted into kindling
wood that its resemblance to a freight
car was utterly'lost. Notwithstanding
this, the , men escaped without a
scratch, and begrudged fate that had
not carried them to a Wet town' be
fore the spllL Their escape is even
more of a miracle than of those who
occupied the outfit cars.
Engine Followed Train.
Today the details of the sensational
affair are creeping out as the eye wit
nesses and participants of the affair
are telling their stories. Engineer
Fields and Conductor Rae"were work
ing near their engine at the Kamela
coal chutes, when the alarm was giv
en. The engine followed as closely as
possible to the fleeing train and was
at the scene of the wreck a few min
utes after it had happened.
Meacham Residents Flee.
The Kamela operator notified the
Meacham operator of the runaway, and
employes and residents living near the
track at the railroad helper station,
quickly sought places of safety be
fore the train reached there. They ex
pected derailment at that point, if
other hazerdnus places were nassed.
When the mnaway dashed through the
station with a frightful roar the in
habitants again crowded to the de
pot awaf"i?sr worn of some descrip
tion of wbat would happen when the
tram waB finally wrecked.
V CHRISTMAS GROCERIES.
Look Over this List Before Placing
. Your Order. ,
Fruits, Oranges, Bananas, Cranber
rles, Fllced Pine Apples. Sliced Pea 4
Vegetables. Cauliflower, Celery, Sweet
Potatoes, Squash, Parsnips, Lettuca,
Cabbage and a whole store of other
good things at J. O. Snodgrass's gro-
cry. This store will be closed Chriot-
mas.
PASEiERS
J
ADROZ
HAS
PRESIDENCY
ESTRADA IMMEDIATELY PLANS
ATTACK ON NEW LEADER OF
NICARAGUA
ESTRADA IMMEDIATELY PLANS
ATTACK ON NEW PRESIDENT
Successor to Zelaya Takes Uls Neat
1 ' Today and Storms Immediately ,
- Hegln to Gather. i
Managua, Dec. 21. Jose Madrca
today assumed the presidency of Nica
ragua, succeding former President
Zelaya, who has resigned.
Madriz recent threat to break wltb.
v.oupled with a subsequent an
nouncement of hjs presidential can
d.'dacy, supported by the Mexican py,
ernment which had sent Senor Creel
to Washington for the purpose of
interceding in his behalf Is constru
ed by his turporters to mean that he
will be president in fact as well cs
in name and Intends to give the coun
try a new deal.
Rattle Will Resume
Dlueflelds. Dee. 21. Reports from
Rama today say that Estrada and
his army are advancing against Gen
eral Vasq ez. Just outside of Rama.
The battle is expected to take place
Immediately. The flrBt 'decisive move
ment on the part of the revolutionists
against the election of Madriz as suc
cssor of President Zelaya was made in
this significant and hostile movement
of t!.o Estrada's army.
AFTER POTATOES.
t'n Ion Dealer Here to Huy Up Early
. Rose Variety for Market-
O. P. Pratt, the Union commission
merchant is in the city today look
ing up the potatoe market. He has
orders for Beveral car loads of Early
Rose potatoes for the California mar
kets. So far hj has only been nble to
secure a portion of his order.
Mr. Pratt states that if our pota
toe growers would cultivate the Cal
ifornia trade a good market could
easily be worked up. 1
About January the California grow
ers plant but this crop Is harvested
for young or. early potatoes and do'
not mature, therefore there Is always
a demand In California for seed pota
toes and they prefer Oreeon stock to
all others and the principal demand
is for the Early Rose variety. Mr.
Pratt estimates the present crop in
this valley at 250 car loads but wita
the exception of choice graded fancy
stock prices are going to rule very
low this winter. . . : . . .-. .
TALK SCHOOL
ON TUESDAY
BOARD MEETING IN CONJUNCTION1
WITH ENTHUSIASTS.
Method of Procedure to Secure $75,(MMH
Building Will Be Made
Plain."'-' .
City high school matters will come
to a focus next Tuesday night when
the board of directors of the Commer
cial Club will meet with the enthu
siasts and the opponents alike, of the
new school building, which is to cost
approximately. $75,000. At this meet
ing methods of procedure are to be
outlined . and carried into exceutlon ,
Immediately afterward. The petition
asking fcr an election will not be fil
ed with V.n school board until. after
th's meeting has been held.
Tho school question Is rapidly gain
ing that point where Its enemies are
iew nuu mr uiween una us promoters
legion. The Observer is safe In pre
dicting that the board will go on rec
ord as being not only willing to give
its endorsement for such a structure,
but will lend a helping hand to Its
successful culmination when the time
comes to vote on the matter. As stated
the question will be voted ou pro
and con. and the method fo procedure
outlined at this meeting.