Oregon Gity Goarier.
A. VV. CHENEY, Publisher.
OREGON CITY OREGON
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Interesting Collection of Current Eventr
In Condensed Form From
Both Continents.
An immense land grant hag been ob
tained from Mexico by Japanese, who
will shortly launch a big colonization
project. The main industry will be
coffee raising.
Rev.' C. O. Brown, the California
minister who figured in the Overman
case, has been formally dropped from
membership in the Chicago Congrega
tional Association.
The outlook in France is gloomy,
and many prominent nion fear a down
fall of the government may result from
the recent agitation. One writer de
clares that anarchy prevails in the
army, the law and the streets.
Dispatches from Guatemala state
that anarchy reigns supreme through
out the oountry, as a direct result of
the assassination of President Barrios
and the plotting of the leaders of vari
ous factions to get into power in the
republic.
The house library committee has
made a favorable report on the bill to
appropriate $10,000 to erect a statue in
Monterey, Ca! , to Commodore John
D. Sloat, who, on' July 7, 1840, landed
at Monterey and declared the land
United States territory.
A dispatch to the New York World
from Havana says: General Blanco's
fiasco in Eastern Cuba, the postponing
of the elections, De Lome's retire
ment, and the recent aotivity of the in
surgents make the outlook black for
autonomy and for Spain. Tho failure
of the scheme of election will be proof
to all nations that autonomy is dead,
and the government is naturally de
laying the evil hour.
There is a rumor in Havana that the
palace authorities have a letter written
by Consul-General Lee, the contents of
which are as interesting, even exciting,
for Spain, as the De Lome letter to
Canalejas was for tho the United
States. Another report was sot afloat
that Genearl Lee had resigned. This,
however, is known to be untrue. A
strong effort is being made to get Gen
eral Lee in the same boat with De
Lome. The momhers of the autonomist
cabinet do not like him.
There iB a general impression among
the pan-Amorican diplomats in Wash
ington, says a correspondent, that
'Costa Rica and Nicaragua are very
iioar war. Both governments have as
sumed belligerent attitudes, according
to information which has reached
Washington, and it is the expectation
of Central Americans in Washington
that President Zolaya will demand a
disavowal of Costa Rioa's responsi
bility in connection with the revolu
tion in San Juan del Sur. Two British
warships are now in Nicaraguan wa
ters, and more are expected. One of
these now in Nicaragua is at Corinto
and the other at San Juan del Sur.
Tho annual report of the civil survice
commission for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1897, has been presented to
the president. It begins with a state
ment to Bhow that after an experience
of nearly 15 years the hopes of the ad
vocates of the civil service law havo
lieon largely realized. In practice tho
law hus proved effective in the direc
tion of economy. Considering the few
changes in the service under tho merit
system, following the wholesalu re
movals system the economy and effici
ency of the one stands in striking con
trast to the extravagance and ineffici
ency of the other. Tho report speaks
highly of the promotion system, based
on the efficiency record.
The Rhodo Island locomotive works
of Providence, has filed a petition in
insolvency.
, C. S. Kellogg, aged 70, was found
frozen to death near Reno, Nev., in
the Silver Hill mountains.
Potter Palmer, of Chicago, ia to
build a mansion at Newport which will
cost between $3,000,000 and $3,000,
000. Dordano, a nephew of ex-President
Ducusk, of Salvador, is iueane in a San
Francisco hospital.
A New York Herald dispatch from
Ran Juan del Sur says: Conservative
refugees who have been threatening an
attack on the government since their
failure last September rushed through
the village without the slightest warn
ing and surprised tho barracks. There
was one fatality on each side. Further
fighting is anticipated. A force of ma
rines from the U. S. battleship Alert
lias been landed to protect American
interests.
Judge II an ford, of the federal court,
sitting in Taconia, has rendered a deci
sion in the case of the Tacoma Grain
Company vs, the Oregon Railroad
& Navigation Company ami tho Great
Northern railway, which is vital im
portance to wheat growers of the state
and shippers. The decision sustains
the constitutionality of tho recently
enacted railway transportation law,
fixing a maximum charge for hauls
within the statu.
The fourth session of tho 14th parlia
ment of Queen Victoria and tho Stub
of the United Kingdom, was opened by
the commission at 3 o'clock Tuesday
after with the customary ceremonies.
Previous to the reassembling of the
parliament, the usual party of beef
eaters, accompanied by number of
officials and headed by the chief of po
lice, made tho customary search tot
imitators of Guy Fawkes, formally as
certaining that the vaults of the house
of parliament did not contain anything
inimical to tho safety of its members.
A TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Reported Long of the Steamship Clara
Nevada Sixty Lives at Stake.
Nanaimo, B. C, Feb. 10. News ar
rived here from Union at 5:30 o'clock
this evening by the Canadian Pacifio
Navigation steamer Islander, that the
fine steel steamer Clara Nevada, which
sailed for Skagway from Seattle two
weeks ago, was lost with all on board.
The details of information received are
as follows:
The Clara Nevada left Skagway for
Juneau on her home trip, February 5,
and, when off Seward City, in Berner
bay, about 80 miles south of Skagway,
she was seen by the inhabitants of Sew
ard City, all ablaze, and from stem to
stern was one mass of hungry flames.
While the long wharf at Berner bay
was crowded with spectators of the
awful scene, a loud report was heard,
which resembled the explosion of boil
ers, and nothing more was seen of the
ill-fated steamer.
The following day the beach was
strewn with wreckage, which ies-mbled
that of the Clara Nevada. It is feared
the unfortunate 40 passengers and the
entire crew are lost, as no trace could
be found of them along the beach of
Berner bay. The sea was rough, and a
furious gale was blowing. It is thought
she was trying to make Berner bay for
shelter. This is the first trip of the
Clara Nevada, and she was due to leave
Seattle last Saturday on her second
trip, with all the berths sold.
The steamer Kustler had left for the
scene, but no report from her iB obtain
able. The Islander reports terrible
weather at Skagway and long the coast.
The Steamer's Officers.
Seattle, Wash., Feb. 16. In the ab
sence of contrary news, the report of
the 'wreck of the Clara Nevada is
credited in this city. The Clara Ne
vada waB commanded by Captain C. II.
Lewis, and her crew consisted of 28
men. The officers are: Pilot, Ed
Kelly; first officer, Smith; engineer,
David Reed; purser, Forster Beck;
steward, O'Donnell, und freight clerk
George Rogers.
It cannot be ascertained how many
passengers the Clara Nevada had
aboard, as no report lias been received
of the number who took passage at
Skagway and other Alaskan ports.
Tho Nevada was formerly the Hasaler,
which was built at Camden, N. J., in
1872 for the United States coast and
geodetic survey service. Last summer
she was condemned by the government
for the reason that she was out of date,
and sold to the Pacific & Alaska
Transportation Company, who had her
thoroughly overhauled before placing
her on the Alaska run. She was con
sidered perfectly seaworthy.
REPORTS CALLED FOR.
Morgan Desires Full Information Re.
gariling Cuban Matter.
Washington, Feb. 16. During the
short open session of the senate today
two phases of the Cuban question were
adverted to briefly. The amendment
of Allen to the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill recognizing the bel
ligerency of Cuba was reportod ad
versely by the foreign relations com
mittee, not, as Morgan explained, on
the merits of the amendment, but be
cause the committee did not approve of
tacking such legislation to appropria
tion bills.
Morgan's restriction calling upon
tho president for the reports of United
States consuls in Cuba and for in for
illation as to whether any agent of the
autonomous government in Cuba hail
been accredited to this government
and recognized by it, was adopted
without dissent. A feature of the ses
sion was a speech in advocacy of tin
free coinage of standard silver dollara
by Allen. During the remainder of
the afternoon the senate was in ex
ecutive session.
Considerable excitement was caused
among tho momhers of the house today
by tho rumor broadly circulated beforo
the house convened that important ac
tion relative to Cuba was to be taken.
It turned out to be simply a resolution
of inquiry unanimously reported by the
foreign affairs committee last week
calling on the state department for in
formation as to the condition of tho
concentrados in Cuba and the progress
made in Spaiy's effort to induce the
Cubans to accept autonomy. Tho reso
lution was adopted without division.
Another resolution was adopted calling
for the correspondence relating to the
exclusion of our fruits, beef and horses
from Germany. The remainder of tho
day w as deovted to District of Columbia
business.
STRIFE IN GUATEMALA.
Anarchy Kelgus Supreme In That I.ltlle
Country.
Now York, Feb. 10. Dispatches
from the Herald correspondent in
Guatemala states that anarchy reigns
supremo throughout the couutiy, as a
direct result of the assassination of
President Barrios und the plotting of
leaders of various factions to get into
power in the republic.
General Mendizabela, who was called
by the military to assume the
presidency, is now ni'irching oil the
capital, Guatemala City, with a force
of troops. Besides tho military, Gen
eral Mendizabela has influential lead
ers, such as General Nujora, behind
him.
General Prospero Morales, who with
General Fuontos was at the head of
the revolution in September, has been
called to Guatemala City by President
Cabrera to take a position in the new
cabinet. General Morales has been in
the City of Mexico. Reports received
here state that General Morales, accom
panied by a party of friends, has started
for Guatemala.
Glasgow, Feb. 16. The British gov
ernment has invited tenders for four
armorej cruisers of 21,000 iiorsr)oiv
aud about 14,000 tons displacement,
TIIROUGIITOLEWISTON
O. R. & N. Said to Be Ready
to Extend Its Line
IT SNAKE RIVER FROM WALLULA
Burlington Party Surveying a Eonte
Through Lo Lo Fags Are
Heading for the Coast.
Lewiston, Idaho, Feb. 15. J. Alex
ander, a prominent merchant, today
received a telegram from a high rail
road source that the O. R. & N. would
immediately commence operations on
an extension of its railroad line to
Lewiston. It has been understood
to be the boast of the O. R. & N. that
when the Northern Pacific entered this
field the former company would show a
bitter competition, and the information
received today is the general subject of
discussion on the streets. The oom
pany will probably extend the line
from Wallula up the Snake river val
ley, tapping tho grain territory of the
high lands by chutos, as several sur
veys by that route have already been
made. By that route the road would
run on the north side of the Snake riv
er and cross the Clearwater river to
Lewiston.
Discussion of the matter has de
veloped the fact that two weekB ago a
party of Burlington surveyors left
Uniontown for the Pierce City country
to work on the western approach to the
Lo Lo pass. This company has had a
Burvey party working on the Montana
side for some time past, but recently
returned to Billings, owing to heavy
snows. It is stated that they will re
sume work April 1, and will join a
party from this side on tho Lo Lo trail
some time during the coming summer,
completing the survey. Billings is now
the western terminus of the Burling
ton, and it is generally understood to
bo the policy of the oompany to push
the lino to the ooast as soon as the
most practicable and direct route could
be determined.
The attention given Lo Lo pass by
the company recently seems to give
substantial support to the belief that
that route has been accepted, in which
event the road will penetrate the
Pierce City mining region and drop
down into the Clearwater valley, and
by" way of Lewiston proceed to Port
land, through tho Columhia basin,
making the shortest transcontinental
route to the coast by 86 hours.
RELIEF FOR WHALERS.
News Received From Expedition of the
Hear.
Seattle, Fob. 15. News was re
ceived here today from the expedition
sont by the government last November
on the revenue cutter Bear to relieve
the. whaling fleet, imprisoned in the
Arctic region. The news was brought
by the steam schooner Lakme, which
loft Dutoh harbor, Alaska, Fobrilary 8.
The overland expedition, in charge of
Lieutenant Jarvis, left the Bear Decem
ber 16, for Tunnorok, a native village
north of Cape Vancouver, and the Bear
returned to Dutch harbor, where' she
went into winter quarters. The over
land expedition, consisting of Lieuten
ant Jarvis, Lieutenant Betliolff, Sur
geon Coll and F. Koltchof, the guide,
expected to proceed to St. Michaels,
which place they would reach in about
10 days after leaving the Bear. From
St. Michaels, the overland expedition
will go to Toller station, where rein
deer will be procured with which to
make the trip to Point Barrow. Oh .
account of the ice, tho Boar was only
able to get within 60 miles of Sledge
island, where it was originally intend
ed to land tho overland expedition.
The Bear made the trip from Seattle
to Unalaska in 10 days, including a de
lay of 20 hours about 800 miles out,
caused by a severe stoim. No special
incident attended the run to where tho
overland expedition was lauded.
The Lakme also brings news that
the bark Coloma, which left Tacoma
December 20, with lumber for Dutoh
harbor, had not reachod her dostina
tion, and it is feared that she is lost.
The cutter Bear was preparing to go in
soaroh of the Coloma.
Just before the Lakme left, a man
named Coley from Montana reported
having discovered rich gold quartz in
the vicinity of Dutoh harbor.
Noxt spring, as soon as it is possible
to get through the ice, Captain Tuttlo,
of the Bear, will start for Point Bar
row, which place ho expects to reach
about July. The point where the over
land expedition was landed is 240 miles
south of St. Michaels, and 1,440 nau
tical miles from Point Barrow.
Yititita Itay Project.
AVashingtou, Feb. 15. Acting Sec
retary Moiklejohn today approved the
project for the improvement of Yuquina
bay, Oregon, and instructions have
been telegraphed to Lieutenant Potter,
of the engineer office at Portland, in
chargo of the district, to immediately
begin preparation for the detailed
plans and specifications which will be
advertised as soon as possible. The
appropriation of $25,000 already made
is entirely inadequate for the work,
which will cost about 1, 000,000 alto
gether, and further estimates will be
submitted, but meantime, the contracts
will be entered into.
Fast Ituu on Hanta Fe.
Topeka, Feb. 15. The Santa Fo
made another remarkable run on its
Western division yesterday, eclipsing
its former records by several minutes.
Train No. 4, the Santa Fe's California
limited, covered the distance from La
Junta, Colo., to Dodge City, Kau., 202
miles iu 3 hours and 44 minutes. De
ducting 10 minutes for slow-downs,
taking water, etc., the actual speed was
60.7 miles per hour. This is faster
than the Empire State express runs be
tween New York and Buffalo.
SPAIN MUST DISAVOW IT.
Formal Repudiation of the De Lome
Letter Requested at Madrid.
New York, Feb. 16. A special to
the Herald from Washington says:
The De Lome incident is still unset
tled. The cipher dispatoh received
from Minister Woodford was not satiB
fsctory. It was taken to the president
by Assistant Secretary Day, and after
a short conference between them Mr.
Day sent another telegram to Minister
Woodford. Officially nothing will be
said about these two com'munications,
further than that the incident is not
yet entirely closed.
It is said that Minister Woodford's
cable was a report of his interview
with the Spanish minister of foreign
affairs, which showed that no direct
disclaimer had been made by Spain
of that feature of the De Lome letter
which has been interpreted to indicate
the insincerity of the Spanish govern
ment in the matter of autonomy and in
the negotiations for a commercial
treaty. Absence of such disclaimer is
not entirely satisfactory to the presi
dent. Accordingly Minister Woodford
has been given further instructions on
the subject.
Without making any express de
mand for a disavowal, Minister Wood
ford is requested by his new instruc
tions to impress upon the Madrid au
thorities tho importance to all con
cerned of some distinct repudiation of
Senor de Lome's declarations, which
the president can believe correctly
represents the position of the Spanish
government.
Mr. McKinley believes that when
the Spanish minister of foreign affairs
fully appreciates the interpretation
which has been put upon Senor do
Lome's letter in some quarters of the
United States, ho will hasten to dis
avow it. Minister Woodford has been
told in a positive way that the presi
dent would like to have done; in other
words, that ho must use delicate di
plomacy to sooure the end desired, and
the president is Bincere in the belief
that another interview between Minis
ter Woodford and the minister of for
eign affairs in Madrid will end the
whole trouble.
As far as that feature of the case, the
De Lome letter criticising the presi
dent ia concerned, the incident is
closed. That was established when
the state department received Senor
Du Boso as charge d'affaires of the
Spanish legation to succeed Senor de
Lome. The other phase of the letter,
the president considers, should very
properly be made the subject for fur
ther negotiations, in order that Spain
should have an opportunity to show
that Senor do Lome falsely represented
her position when he made the state
ment he did.
Spain Will Disavow It.
New York, Feb. 10. The World's
Madrid correspondent describing the
formal statement of regret at the cen
sure of Do Lome's conduct, which he
says is about to be made by Foreign
Minister Gullon, says the statement
will be in the form of a note in reply
to a communication from ibe Ameri
can government, and will set forth
the substance of what the foreign
minister said in an interview
with United States Minister
Woodford, February 10, when the
latter submitted the note from the
government at Washington informing
the Madrid government of Senor do
Lome's offense and requesting It is re
call. The cabinet had supposed that tho
prompt acceptance of Senor de Lome's
resignation would be sufficient satisfac
tion for America, the writing of the
letter to Canalejas not being an official
but a purely private offense. Conse
quently the telegram from New York
representing that the United States
government expected further satisfac
tion for the minister's conduct was a
surprise.
It has been arranged that the new
Spanish minister shall arrive in Wash
ington before the arrival of the dele
gates form Spain, Cuba and Porto Rico,
appointed to participate in thedrafitng
of a commercial treaty, which Premier
SagiiBta considers to be of the voiy
highest importance.
All rumors about the sending of
Spanish ironclads and torpedo-boats to
Cuban waters are premature. '
Spaniards Said to Have Opened Letters
Now York, Feb. 10. It is now
known on tho highest authority that
the real reason for sending the torpedo
boat Cushing to Havana was that the
authorities have been tampering with
the mail sent to the battle-ship Maine
in Havana harbor, says the Washington
correspondent of the Herald. This re
sulted in Captain Sigsbee, of the
Maine, sending a protest to Washing
ton, w ith the suggestion that a regular
service be established between Key
WeBt ami Havana by means of torpedo
boats. On the strength of this protest
the Cushing was sent to Havana.
Although it has been freely reported
that official mail has been tampered
with in the past, Secretary! Long said
last night that he had received no re
ports from Captain Sigsbee saying that
the Spanish authorities had interfered
with his letters iu any way.
"The dispatch of the Cushing to
Havana," he said "was in line with
the department's action in sending the
Maine on a friendly visit to that port
and the Montgomery to Santiago de
Cuba. I expect she is now on her way
back to Key West."
Resignation Considered Enough.
Madrid, Feb. 16. The note from
Minister Woodford demanded that
Spain Bhould formally disavow the in
sults to President McKinley contained
in Senor de Lome's letter to Senor
Canalejas. The cabinet council today,
it is reported, decided uunanimously
to reply to Minister Woodford that
Senor de Lome's spontaneous resigna
tion and the terms of the decree accept
ing it were oonsidered sufficient. It
ia understood that a long cipher tele
gram was sent to Washington.
TOLD TO COME HOME
De Lome Recalled b,y, Span
ish Cabinet and Queen.
HIS SUCCESSOR NOT YET CHOSEN
The ex-Mlnlster PachlnR-His Trunk for
an Early Departure Admits
Writing the Letter.
Madrid, Feb. 14. At a meeting of
the Spanish cabinet, held today, un
der the presidency of the queen-regent,
the minister of foreign affairs read a
dispatch from Senor Dupuy de Lome,
saying that the published letter to
Senor Canalejas was written by him,
and tendering his resignation. The
cabinet decided to accept his resigna
tion, and he was so notified, the lega
tion to be entrusted to the first secre
tary. ,
Senor Sagasta, the premier, and
other members of the cabinet, state
publicly that the De Lome incident
will not affect the relations between
Spain and the United States, and that
a new envoy competent to conduct the
commercial negotiations will be se
lected. Regard! Himself as a Private Citizen,
Washington, Feb. 14. The state de
prtment this morning gave out for pub
lication the substanoe of tho cablegram
sent Saturday to our minister at Madrid
in referenoe to the De Lome letter. The
statement was as follows:
1'here has appeared in the publio
prints a letter addressed by the Span
ish minister to Mr. Canelajas. This
letter the minister admits was written
by him. It contains expressions con
cerning the president of the United
States of such a character as to termi
nate the minister's usefulness as a rep
resentative of the government to this
oountry. General Woodford, therefore,
was instructed at once to say to the
minister of state that the immediate
recall of De Lome is expected by the
president. It is stated that up to this
time no response has been received from
the Spanish government.
Up to 10 o'clock de Lome had not re
ceived from the Spanish government an
aceptance of his resignation, but it is
believed it will soon be given, and the
minister's official connection with the
government as Spanish representative
to the termination without the neces
sity of action by this government by
giving the minister his passpoits. De
Lome regards himself now as a private
citizen, although technically still the
Spanish representative.
De Lome Anxious to Go.
New York, Feb. 14. Diplomatio
relations between the United States
and Spain through Minister de Lome
are at an end, and correspondence will
be oonduoted exclusively through Min
ister Woodford in Madrid until Spain
Bonds a new minister to Washington,
or designates a charge d'affaires, says
the Herald's Washington correspond
ent. Minister de Lome has cablod his res
ignation to his government. Assistant
Secretary of State Day admitted that
this was truo, by saying that Minister
de Lome did not deny tho authenticity
of the lotter to Canelejas, and by stat
ing that a cablegram bad been sent to
Minister Woodford in Madrid, the con
tents of which would not be made pub
lic until it had reached its destination.
While no official statement will be
made as to the contents of this cable
gram until its substance has been com
municated to the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, it informs Minister
Woodford of the publication of the let
tor, says that Do Lome does not deny
its authenticity, and directs him to
suggest to the Spanish foreign office
that Da Lome cannot be regarded
as persona grata and to suggest that
another minister be sent to Washing
ton. While naturally regretting the un
pleasant incident which has terminated
his diplomatic caroer in Washington,
Minister de Lome will not regret being
relieved of the onerous duties which
have developed upon him as the Span
ish representative here during the insur
rection in Cuba. As soon as he learned
that the letter had been obtained by
the junta he realized that its publica
tion would make his official stay in
Washington ns Spanish minister impos
sible, and he immediately cabled his
government the facts and tendered his
resignation. When the lotter appeared
he again cabled to his government,
stating that the lotter had been pub
lished and reiterating his wish to be
relieved.
This is not the first time that De
Lome has placed his resignation at the
disposal of the Sagasta ministry.
When Senor Sagasta came into power,
the minister being of the opposing
party in Spain, tendered his resigna
tion, and he has offered his resignation
again in all on five separate occasions
since that time. He lias been retained
by Senor Sagasta, however, on account
of his intimate knowledge of the Cuban
question and of the situation in the
United States.
Holland Dogs for Alaska.
Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 14. Thirty
dogs direct from Holland were shipped
to Alaska today on the bark Shirley.
Japan Refused More Time.
London, Feb. 14. The Peking cor
respondent of the Times says: The
Japanese minister, Curino, regretfully
intimates to the tsung-li-yamen the
inability of his government, in regard
to the obligations contracted by Japan,
to grant an extension of the time for
payment of the war indemnity.
Though no official statement has been
issued, the negotiations for a loan from
British sources are regarded as having
failed.
SPAIN SUES FOR PEACE.
Negotiations Have Been Opened With
the Insurgents.
Havana, via Key West, Feb. 15. It
was resolved at a meeting of the cabi
net, to open negotiations with the in
surgents in the belief that the resolu
tion could not be suppressed by force
of arms. Anticipating that the insur
gents would not accept the new terms,
it was resolved that the colonial gov
ernment woald open negotiations, thus
saving the Madrid government from
the responsibility. The following
propositions were formally tendered to
the insurgents:
"First The volunteers will be dis
solved and a Cuban militia formed.
"Second The insurgent colonels and
generals will be recognizod.
"Third Cuba will be called on to
pay only $100,000,000 out of thefOOO,
000,000 indebtedness due for both
wars.
"Fourth Cuba will pay $2,000,000
a year for the crown list.
"Fifth Cuba will make her own
treaties without interference by the
Madrid government.
"Sixth Spanish products will have
a 10 per cent margin of protection over
similar products from other countries.
"Seventh No exiles or . deportations
will be made, even in war time, to
Spain, Africa or penal settlements
elsewhere.
"Eighth Death sentences for re
bellion shall be abolished.
"Ninth Martial law cannot be or
dered by the captain-general without
the assent of both the house and son
ate, if those bodies are in session, or
without the assent of a majority of the
cabinet, if the house and senate are
not in session.
"Tenth The archbishop of Santi
sgo de Cuba shall always he a native
Cuban-
"Eleventh The actual insurgent
party shall have three seats in the first
cabinet
"Twelfth An armistice of 15 days
shall be granted for the discussion of
the terms of peace."
These terms are accepted by the
autonomist party in full, with the ex
ception of Senors Galvez, Montero
Zayas and Delonte.
A GENERAL WALK-OUT.
Textile Workers In New England Vote
to Strike.
Boston, Feb. 15. At a meeting in
this city of 55 representatives of textile
unions in New England, it was unani
mously voted to recommend that all
unions call out the operatives in every
cotton mill in New England.
The resolution was practically the
outcome of the recommendation which
President Gompers made to the Feder
ation of Labor last Sunday, in which
he urged the different unions to unite
on some settled policy on the mill situ
ation in New England. At the meet
ing, a committee of four was named to
take oharge of the matter, and after a
conference, this committee recom
mended that a general meeting be held
to take definite action.
Today, the representatives of the
various national textile associations
assembled and for four hours discussed
the situation from every standpoint.
The primary object of the meeting w.as
to devise some methods of rendering
assistance to the New Bedford strikers.
It was pointed out that if the strikers
at New Bedtord could hold out for
four weeks without receiving more than.
20 cents per operative per week in tho
way of outside assistance, other mill
operatives could stand a similar strain,
and that if all went out it would pre
cipitate a crisis that would have to be
met within a short time by the manu
facturers. It was also shown that the
mule spinners were in excellent condi
tion, as regards funds; that the United
Textile Workers and the New England
Federation of Weavers were in good
shape, but that the rest were short of
funds. The resolutions were discussed,
and at length the matter was put to a
vote, one being registered against
the motion. The different unions
voted to order a strike in every mill
until the adjustment of wages could
be arranged.
It now remains for the unions-to take
action, but what this action will be
is a matter of conjecture. If all should
acquiesce and vote to strike, 47,000
operatives would undoubtedly cease
work, and the manufacture of cotton
goods throughout Now England would
be at a standstill. If, on the other
hand, only a few unions should vote to
strike, the refusal of the others would
still keep a large portion of the mills
in operation.
Inasmuch, however, as the meeting
was the outcome of Gomper's sugges
tion, and as he admonished the mem
bers of the Federation of Labor to join
hands and assist the New Bedford
strikers, it seems probable that nearly
every union will carry out the recom
mendations and that one of the greatest
strikes ever seen in this country is im
pending. Crime of a Jealous Husband.
Ogden, Utah, Feb. 15. Last night
Jack Douglass, of Ogden, shot and in
stantly killed his wife Emily, at Hunts
ville, in Ogden valley. He then turned
the gun on himself and tried three
times to end his own life, but without
sucoess. Tho action was the result of
jealous rage.
Moline, 111., Feb. 15. The Audi
torium opera-house, with its content
was destroyed by fire this evening.
Adjoining store buildings also suffered
from fire and water. The total loss is
estimated at $80,000. The flames cut
off egress from the Auditorium, and
there were several thrilling rescues by
ropes and ladders. The building con
tained the large plant of the Porter
Printing Company, Electrio laundry,
Commercial heating plant, etc.
Arnold's "Funmakers" troupe lost
their entire outfit. The loss is covered
by insurance. Half a dozen persona
who were in the building narrowly
escaped death ' ' ' :