warn, VOL. XLIY. NO. 13,649. PORTLAOT, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1904. PRICE FIVE CENTS. Japanese Are on Heels of Kuropatkin. RACE FOR MUKDEN WARM Heavy Roads and Floods Im pede Retreat of Slavs. ST. PETERSBURG CONFIDENT I It Does Not Beliey the Army Will Be Cut Off Kuropatkin Briefly Re ports That He Is Advanc ing Northward. Tbo-desxth of Immediate press and of ficial dispatches from the present actual seat of the Far Eastern struggle con tinues. It Is admitted, by the Russian War Office that no telegrams whatever were received from General Kuropat kin hearing Tuesday's date, the last mas sage to the Emperor from the General being dated September 5, and briefly tell ing that the army "was advancing north ward; that it had extricated itself from a dangerous position; that there was con stant cannonading of the rear guard, and that the losses on that day were about 100. The situation, in the light of the latest information, may be summed up as fol lows: i The, Russians are pushing on to Muk den, greatly impeded by heavy rains and floods, conducting an orderly retreat, and followed step by step by the Japanese. De tails of the fighting and of the exact posi tion of the opposing armies are lacking. The report that Kuropatkln's rear guard has been annihilated, and that the Rus sian forces are In danger of being sur rounded, is denied by the Russian General Staff. The Russian "War Office Is entirely confident that the retreat Is slowly, but surely, being effected. From Tokio comes the official report that the bulk of the Russian forces Is still at Yental. The Japanese Field Marshal, In an extended report of the fighting up to September 4 says the Russians burned all the railroad bridges over the Taltz River, " and predicts that, while the Japanese list of casualties is not yet completed, the losses will prove Heavy. "Viceroy Alexieff is on his way from Har bin to Mukden. The heads of Kuropat kln's long commissary trains have passed through Mukden, and are continuing northward. The attack on Port Arthur continues, and Chinese arriving at Chefoo say the Russian garrison expects a general land and. sea attack today. HIS BOTTLING-UP NOT FEARED Russian War Office, Confident Kuro patkin Is Safely Retreating. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 7 (2:10 A. M.) There has been no news from General Kuropatkin since Monday afternoon. This is attributed to the interruption of 'direct communication with the Commander-in-Chief, owing to the transfer of the telegraph office to Mukden, whither mes sages have to be sent by courier. Th utmost confidence prevails at the "War Office that th Russian army is slow ly, but surely, effecting the retreat with out serious risk of being cut off. Nona the less, intense anxiety is felt throughout the whole nation, and this feeling is shared by the Emperor. His Majesty is unwilling at such a juncture to absent himself from Peterhof. and has countermanded all proposed journeys. He will not go to Warsaw or LIbau, and re mains closeted for hours with his military advisers. It Is believed the outcome of these deliberations will be an order to mobilize several more army corps. Late last night the Associated Press ob tained the following statement from the "War Office: "No telegrams whatever were received from General Kuropatkin today (Tues day). It is Inferred that the only Russian troops remaining at Yental September 6 aro the rearguard, whose mission is solely to retard the enemy's movement. "It is quite consistent from the position of affairs to suppose that a portion of the Japanese forces entered Yental, there be ing no Intention to hold this point, as it is of no lntrlnsiclmportance. The stores there have already been removed, and whatever was not removed was burned. "An official telegram will probably ar rive tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The transfer of the telegraph office to Mukden has caused delay in the direct transmission of messages." Censor Probably Holds It Up. A Russian correspondent of the Asso ciated Press sent a message from Muk den Tuesday evening, more than 24 hours after the dispatch of General Kuropat kln's last published message. This corre spondent gives no details of the retreat, and the censor is probably not allowed to authorize the transmission of this news until the Commander-in-Chief sends his report The correspondent points out In hs dis patch that the Russian forces are fol lowed step by step by the Japanese, and are greatly impeded by heavy roads and floods. He adds: "It is Impossible to say how long the fighting will continue, as the Initiative is in the hands of the Japanese." The correspondent does not conceal the fact that the Russians are undergoing a severe ordeal, but he says the courage of the troops remains undiminished. St. Petersburg is full of the wildest ru mors, some asserting that Kuropatkln's rearguard has been annihilated; that Ku ropatkin has been taken prisoner, and that Port Arthur has fallen. These alarmist reports were circulated on the Bourse, and at one time threatened to cause a panic. FIGHTING ALMOST CONTINUOUS Japanese Are on the Very Heels of the Russians. MUKDEN, Sept 6. A Russian corre spondent of the Associated Press supplies the following: "Our retreat Is being carried out under heavy pressure, and with the Japanese on our heels. The task is additionally diffi cult owing to the terrible condition of the roads and the rivers, which are flooded. "The fighting has now been almost con tinuous since August 24, and how much longer it will last Is impossible to say, as the initiative is in the hands of .the Japanese. "The number of lives sacrificed and the loss of supplies (by burning, bridges being blown up, etc, can only be explained when - we once more have concentrated, an'd this will occupy us for some days. "Do not be Tinder any misapprehension; we will live through these heavy days and still moro alarming nights, for, despite recent failures, we have steadfast faith In the future, and the spirit of the troops is unimpaired. "There are numberless stories of hero ism, collective and Individual, which It Is impossible to relate by wire. "The Red Cross is working tirelessly, not only in aiding the wounded, but in establishing booths by the roadside and distributing food and tea to the sick, in jured and starving. The Chinese popula tion is in a state of ferment" Long lines of commissariat wagons drawn by steaming mules, horses and even bullocks, are straining their way north over the soaking, cut-up main road from Yental. Behind, them come long trains of artillery, and back of them still Kuropatkln's army. The main Japanese army is marching up along the roads eastward of the Rus sian lines of retreat which converge at Mukden. Another Japanese force is also heading for Mukden from the westward, coming from the direction "of the Xiao River. Marshal Oyama seems to bo making a race for Mukden. Ho has evidently great superiority in numbers, especially in ar tillery. The booming of the Japanese cannon, which ere in play 14 miles from Mukden, was heard today. t The. skies ,aro black and the air is stilling with the sense of" suffocation which is felt here before a storm breaks strange' harmony between the elements and the menacing attitude of the contend ing armies. REPORTS SLAVS ADVANCING. Kuropatkin Says Army Is Out of Dan gerous Position. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept 6. The Em peror has received the following dispatch from General Kuropatkin, dated Septem ber &: "Today the army Is advancing north ward. It has extricated Itself from the dangerous position in which it was placed, being threatened by the enemy -and hav ing a. narrow front "The enemy throughout the day can nonaded our rearguard, especially its left flank, but without much effect. "We lost about 100 men today." His Column Fifteen Miles Long. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept S. The War Office Is advised that the heads of trans port trains passed through Mukden yes terday at noon, and the fact that the bag gage trains continued on their way north ward of Mukden, the War Office explains, does not mean that Kuropatkin Is bound further north at this time, but is simply a natural precautionary measure even if he intended to hold Mukden, the Russian formation during the operations of an army locating the baggage train 12 miles In the rear of thp main body of troops. Onco . Yental is passed Kuropatkln's army will have the Hun River between it and Oyama. The only uneasiness is due to the possibility that Japanese light draft gunboats, which, according to re ports, are coming up from Niu Chwang, might suddenly' make their appearance, the river being navigable to this point. As Kuropatkin was just north of Yen tai when the heads of the transports en tered Mukden yesterday, it is evident that the retreating column Is over 15 miles long. Denies Force Was Cut Off. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept 6. The As sociated Press Is authorized, in the name of the Russian General Staff, to deny the report which was In circulation here last night of the annihilation of General Ku ropatkln's rearguard. According to the latest advices of the staff, no Russian force was cut off, and it Is believed there Is little danger of the Japanese Intercept ing Kuropatkin below Mukden. The information here is that the Jap anese force at Benslhu docs not exceed two 'divisions at the most It Is added, however, that the staff has not yet re ceived news from the front under today's date. Alexieff at Harbin. HARBIN, Manchuria, Sept 6. Viceroy Alexieff and his staff have arrived here from Vladivostok. FLEET WILL BE DELAYED. Baltic Ships Will Not Be Able to Get Away Before November. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept 7 (2:10 A. M.) According to an unconfirmed report the Baltic fleet will not be able to sail before November, owing to the discovery of considerable defects in some of the ves sels which recently underwent their trial trips. Great Force Soo'n to Reach Front. ST. PETERSBURG, Sept 6. It is stat ed that by the end of October, the Fourth. Eighth and Thirteenth Army Corps, to taling 192,000 men, will reach the front and that before the end of September 1100 guns will have been dispatched to General Kuroptakin. . Asks for Men to Repair Ships. ST. PETERSBURG. .Sept 6. A tele gram has been received from VIce-Ad-miral Skrydloff asking that 200 dockyard workmen be sent out to Vladivostok to repair the cruisers Rossia.and Gromoboi. It is believed these repairs will require three months' time. His Appointment "Not Confirmed. ST. PETERSBURG. Sept 7 (2:30 A. M.) The rumor that Rear-Admiral Prince Ouktomsky Is to be replaced by Cap tain Viren, of the cruiser Bayan, in com mand of the Port Arthur squadron, lacks confirmation up to the hour of filing this dispatch. CASTOFFTURNER Populists of Washington Call Him Traitor. DENOUNCED IN PLATFORM Blistering Speeches Before the State Convention. DEMOCRATIC TRICK FOILED Plan to Pack the Body Was Fore stalled by the Action of the Com mittee In inserting the Con demnatory Plank. SEATTLE, Wash., Sept 6. Special.) Democratic politicians today tried to job the Populist State Convention, but only succeeded in forcing the convention into a position that compels the Populists to support Mead rather than vote for Tur ner. Under the direction of B. R. Brierly, secretary of the King County Democratic Committee, a small crowd of Democrats recruited from the streets were forced into the Populist mass convention, quali fying by signing the roll, which pledged support to the National ticket The Dem ocratic following had explicit instruction to prevent the nomination of a state tick et and Brierly was at the convention to see that his orders were followed out He had a scattering Populist support to count upon, the whole giving him a fair ma jority of those taking part in the meet ing. The platform committee sprang a sur prise that Brierly and his delegates had not anticipated. George F. Cotterill, who "bolted the Democratic National . ticket went hack to the Populists In today's con vention. He brought into the meeting a plank strongly denouncing Turner for his entire official attitude and the part he took In the St Louis convention. This he had ratified by the platform commit tee, of which he was a member. Plank Carries After Fight. When the plank was sprung on the convention It was carried s.fUr a pro longed fight by a majority of six. The Brierly men in the meeting were at sea. Later, when the question of naming a state1 ticket came up, the Brierly Demo crats voted solidly against the issue, de feating the plan And leaving the conven tion with only a list of electoral nomi nees. This action put the Populists In the at titude of repudiating Turner, yet refusing to nominate a state ticket Leaders in the Populists rank declare support of Mead is the logical outcome. Brierly was authorized to pack the Pop ulist convention and was expected to han dle his men to good advantage. He gave orders from the corridors or from a seat in the rear of the hall. When the story of the Populists' final action reached Democratic State Headquarters after ad journment tonight there was an explosion. Democratic leaders recognize the blunder. Denunciation of Turner. The adoption of the plank denouncing Turner provoked a number of speeches that bitterly arraigned the ex-Senator and Gubernatorial candidate. .Richard Wlnsor, whto accepted the nomination for Supreme Court Judge from the fusion convention of 1900, presided over the Pop ulist convention today. He openly charged Turner with having bought the Whitman 2nd a part of the Spokane County delega tions In that convention for Rogers, ani insisted Turner should be branded by the word "traitor." "To whom," he exclaimed, "does the Populist party in this state owe its un doing? The plank in this platform names the man. It points a finger at him and says: 'Thou art the one.' That Turner Is the traitor who won, and his price for the betrayal Is the nomination for Gov ernor at the hands of a remnant of the Democratic party. We know that he and the Democratic party justly feared rebuke and that they have their minions who are here to prevent It" Edward Clayson, Sr., charged Turner with manipulating the convention of 1900 with money, and L. E. Rader, of Olalla, Insisted that Turner had wrecked the Populist party. Assassin of the Party. George F. Cotterill denounced Turner as one who, secured his election to the United States Senate after a fight that left a cloud on the party, and one who had used his power as Senator gradually to kill the Populist organisation. A defense of Turner was made by Frank T. Reld, ex-Judge of Snohomish County, who insisted that the question of Tur ner's personality was not properly before the convention, and also by A- M.. Meck len, who served as secretary of the fu sion campaign committee In 1S00. After adoption of the platform the following electoral ticket was put in nomination: William Priest Douglas County; W. B. Runner, Spokane; L. B. .Rader, Kitsap; George F. Cotterill, King; Edward Clay son, Sr., King. S. M. Allen, of King, was made chair man of the Populist State Committee. The convention was a mass meeting attended by 60 persons. Lincoln, Walla Walla and half a dozen Western Washington coun ties, aside from King, were 'represented. The Platform. The platform adopted is as follows: The People's party of the State of Wash ington, repudiating the shameless surrender of Us Democratic allies of plutocracy ac complished at St. Louis and ratified at Bel lingham, hereby declares Its detennlnaUon to press forward alone the line of true De mocracy laid down In. the Omaha platform of 1S92, recognized in the .Chicago and Kan sas City platforms of 1S90 and 1000, but which are now reported only by the People's party platform adopted, at Springfield. HI.. July 4, 1004. To that platform and to the nominees thereon, Thomas" E. Watson, of Georgia, for President and Thomas IT. Tlb bels, of Nebraska, for Ylce-Presldent, we give our unfaltering allegiance. We call upon all true Democrats In the State of Washington to emulate the sacrifice of party for principle, which they demanded and which was made by the Populists in 189G and 1000, by the overwhelming rebuke and repudiation of the sham Democracy of 1904 and the traitors to Democratic prin ciples who aided In the surrender to plu tocracy. As the most effective and only' consistent means to accomplish that end, we Invite their support in 1004 of the gal lant associate in the leadership of 1890, the man for whom they then helped to cast the electoral vote of the State of Washing ton, who faces forward' In 1904 as he did In 1890 Thomas E. Watson. In the State of Washington we denounce and repudiate the proven 'pretenses and In consistent record of George Turner, from the corruption of the Fusion Legislature of 1897, which- accomplished his election as United States Senator under the assumed name of Populist, to his part In the be trayal of the Bryan Democracy to Wall street Interests in St. Louis in 1004. In application of the' National People's party platform, we specifically demand in the State of Washington: ( First The submission to the voters, of this state of a constitutional amendment which shall provide for direct legislation by the initiative and referendum. " Second The enactment of a direct primary law which shall place the nomination of all candidates for public offices directly with the voters, without the Intervention of any caucuses or conventions. Third Until public ownership be accom plished, we demand a Railway Commission and such other legislation aa may be neces sary to accomplish the complete control and regulation by the people of railway and other public utility corporations In the in terest" and for the sen-ice of the people at Just rates; the taxation of their franchises and other property on the same basis as other prqperty In the state; the prohibition of the use of passes and the stamping out, by adequate laws and fearless enforcement of corruption of public officers In all Its various and Insidious forms. To the accomplishment of these definite reforms In this stato wo pledge the candi dates of this convention, and appeal for the support of good cltlssenshlp without regard to party. Where no nominations are mado by the People's party for any state, county or legislative office, we call upon all be lievers In the principles of the People's party to cast their ballots only for such candidates of other parties who shall, by their pledge, character and record, give proof of their support of the propositions herein set forth, and willingness to aid in their accomplishment DELIVERS ORDERS TO CETJISERS British Vessel Informs Russians Neu tral Shipping Is Not to Be Molested. ZANZIBAR, Island of Zanzibar, Sept 6. The British cruiser Forte edrly this morning found the Russian vplunteer fleet steamers St Petersburg and Smolensk within the three-mllo-limit and communi cated to them the orders of the Russian government to desist from interference with neutral shipping. The commanders of the Russian vessels said they would forthwith proceed to Europe. Word was brought in; jssterday by the G'irman steams: Koa;vilr.H that the, St Petersburg and Snioleuak were coal ing In neutral -waters. The Forte imme diately proceeded to search for them, and found the Russian vessels. They were not coaling, but after the orders of the Russian government had been delivered to them, the Smolensk and St. Petersburg joined a German collier and proceeded to Dar-Es-Salaam, on the African coast, 25 miles south of Zanzibar. The Forte re turned here this afternoon. War Duty on Flour. TACOMA, Wash., Sept. 6. Shippers have been notified that, effective October L a war duty of 10 cents per sack will be taxed on flour entering Japanese ports. CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER XJao Tang Campaign. Japanese are harassing Kuropatkln's rear. Page 1. Heavy roads and floods Impede retreat of Rus- Blans. Page 1. Kuropatkln's column Is 15 miles long. Page 1. Fighting Is almost continuous. Page 1. Port Arthur-and Contraband. Russians expect a land and sea attack today. Page 5. Russia appears to be on the point of making substantial concessions . as to what consti tutes contraband. Page 1. Domestic Knights Templar open conclave at San Fran cisco with a grand parade. Page 3. Vote of strikers on packers' proposition is small, and prospect for peace la not bright. Page 3. v Railroad coach jumps track near Pendleton, Mo.;, eight people are killed, SO Injured. Page 5. Political. Despite bard Democratic figbt. Republicans carry Vermont by lncreaswd plurality. Page 1. Ex-Senator Davis, his friends say. will give only $50,000, Instead of 250,000 as expected, . to the general Democratlcfund. Page 1. George Turner Is denounced as a traitor in the "Washington Populist platform. Page 1. National. Government desires a deed to right-of-way from Oregon before portage railway and canal can use It Jointly. Page 1. General MacArthur recommends a cavalry post be established In the Willamette. Valley. Page 2. Pacific Coast. Salmon pack In the Columbia River for the Spring and Summer is" larger than that of last year. Page 4. Mrs. Leonore B. Jone shot four times and fatally wounded at Oregon City by G. W. Louth. Page 4. Mrs. John Mlnto is dead at Salem. Page 4. Land Is flled on at Blackfoot, Idaho, very rapidly. Page 4. Commercial and Marine. Oregon and Eastern weekly crop reports. Page 13. Selling pressure weakens wheat at opening at Chicago. Page 13. Stock prices continue-to advance. Page 13. Knights Templar parade at San Francisco draws attention from business. Page 13. Reported charter of Whlttlleburn for grain loading. Page 0. Sports Three out of six favorites win. Page 12. Pacific Coast League scores: Los Angeles 5. Portland 3; Seattle 8, Tacoma 1; San Fran cisco 0, Oakland 1. Page 12. Portland and Vicinity. Leo Sing Xom, prominent Chinese physician, receives fatal blow from unseen assassin. Page 14. Lack of wind saves country from disastrous forest flres. Page 14. 0 Board of Trade will seek to bring permanent head office of Women of Woodcraft here. Page S. Father asks court, to modify decree of divorce and give him custody of child. Pago 9. Farmers are busily promoting electric road to Oregon City. Page 8. Sheriff closes all Chinese gambling-houses. Page 14. Sierra Club, of California, wants to climb Mount Rainier with Mazamas. Page 8. UT AT POLL Democrats Suffer Great Defeat in Vermont. THEIR HARD FIGHT IN-VAIN Republican Plurality Will Be Greater Than in 1900. GOVERNOR CHOSEN BY 32,000 Complexion of the Legislature Is Un changed, Insuring the Re-Election of Senator Red field Proctor. PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF VERMONT. Reo. Rep. Dem. plurality. 1000 42.K0S 12.840 20.710 1800 S8.555 14.6SU 23,80 1802 37.002 16.32o 21.CC7 1SSS 43,102 16.7S8 23.404 18S1.., 30.514 17.331 22. IS." 18S0 451507 18.310 27.521 1876 44.42S 20.330 24,U7S 1872 41.481 10,027 30.331 Majority. WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt., Sept. 7. The Republicans won a sweeping vic tory in the state elections yesterday. Charles J. Bell, their candidate for Gov ernor will have, on practically complete returns, a plurality greater than that re turned for a Governor since 1S96, and which will prove to be not far from 33,200. Returns from all but 11 small towns show these totals: Bell, 47,816; Porter, (Dem.), 14,979; plurality for the Repub lican candidate, 32,536. The 11 missing towns represent a total vote of about 1224. Four years ago they gave Stickney (Rep.), 96S and Senter (Dem.), 230. If they show a falling off in tho vote In the same ratio as was disclosed In other places, they will still add something over 400 votes to Bell's plurality. "The rest of the state ticket. Congres sional ..and Legislative candidates', -ran well with the head 'Jt'the state ticket. The result is a general surprise to the leaders of both parties, it not having been deemed possible by the Republicans or conceded td be within the bounds of possibility by the Democrats. The vote was normal for a Presidential year, and the weather fine. The campaign was hard fought by both parties. Demo crats bending their efforts to a reduction of the Republican majority of 31,000 given to W. W. Stickney for Governor, in 1900. The state officers elected are: Governor Charles J. Bell, Welden. Lieutenant-Governor Chas. H. Stearns Treasurer John L. Bacon. Secre'tary of State Frederick G. Fleet wood. Auditor of Accounts Horace A. Graham, David J. Foster, of- Burlington, was UNABLE TO BREAK THE GSXKKAL lUtED D. GICAXT, COMMANDING THE "BLUES" XX GliEAT MIMIC BATTLE AT BULL SUN. CORPS HEADQUARTERS, Gainesville, Va., Sept. 0. Tho Bluo and tho Brown armies were In fierce combat when halted by the . chief umpire at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Previous to this the commanders of the two forces had spent the time maneuvering for position. The net result of the day la that General Grant, who Is charged with forcing back General Bell's "Broun" army through Thoroughfare Gap. has not been able to break the line of defense es tablished by General Bell during the early hours of the morning. elected to Congress from the First Dis trict, and Kittredge Haskins, of Bratlles boro, from the Second District. The complexion of the Legislature is practically unchanged. This indicates that Senator Redfleld Proctor will he ra-elected. The fact that the election was the first to be held in an Eastern state this year gave It a National significance, as the disclosure of the prospect of the Democratic and Republican strength In a .way would be prophetic of the situa tion throughout the country on Na tional issues. . Roosevelt Receives Returns. OYSTER BAY, N. Y.. Sept 6. President Roosevelt received returns tonight from the Vermont election. The Associated Press bulletins and private dispatches were received over the special wire in the Summer executive offices and. then trans mitted to Sagamore HHI by Secretary Loeb by telephone. Early dispatches show ing a percentage of Democratic losses were received with satisfaction. At 9:3C the following dispatch from Senator Proc tor was received: To the President, Oyster Bay. Sixty towns show gains over 1900. Looks like 20, 000. REDFIELD PROCTOR." DAVIS MAY NOT BE LIBERAL. Friends Say He Will Give $50,000 Instead of $250,000 to Fund. ELKINS. W. Va., Sept. 6. (Special.) Henry ,G. Davis, Democratic candidate for Vice-President, will go to New York early next week to confer with the campaign managers, after which he will proceed to Esopus and visit Judge Parker. It Is expected that while n New York, Mr. Davis will settle the amount he is to donate toward the campaign. It is thought this will be $250,000 for the general fund and $100,000 to be devoted to West Vir ginia alone. His brother, Thomas Davis, who Is very much devoted to him, will probably dupli cate these sums. Thomas Davis is worth considerably more than $8,000,000 and Is reported to have said that he would spend every cent of It If necessary to see his brother get a vote of which he can be proud. People quite close to the Davis brothers assert, however, that each has decided to give $30,000 to the general fund, and this Is positively all they will contribute. ALL FOR "STAND PAT" POLICY National Republican Executive Com mittee Discusses Campaign Work. NEW YORK. Sept. C Chairman Cortel you returned fom Oyster Bay this after noon, and will leave for Chicago tomor row. A meeting of the National Execu tive Committee was held today, attended by all members attached to the Eastern headquarters. There was a general dis cussion of what had been done In differ ent parts of the country up to the pres ent time, and consultations as to what should be done In the future. . This included the varied subjects of as signment of speakers, the topics which should be put forward and campaign is sues which should be made prominent. It seemed to be the general opinion that a strong ppsltion should be maintained on the- tariff policy of the party, and the record of. the party since it has been In power should be defended at every point. Fairbanks in Maine. BRUNSWICK, Me.. Sept. 6. Charles W. Fairbanks, Republican candidate for Vice-President, addressed a large meeting at Merry Meeting Park, near here, this afternoon, discussing politics In a gen eral way, but paying special attention to the question of the upbuilding of a mer chant marine. After" referring to the work of the committee appointed by Con gress at the suggestion of President Roosevelt to collect data relative to the matter, ho said: "If we can build up a merchant marine, we will Increase opportunities for labor, stimulate enterprises and promote pros perity to the American people. "This Is an Important question, and It rests with the Republican party to settle It" LINE OF THE "BROWNS" T Taft Considers Portage Road Right-of-Way. GANNQTFAV.OR OREGON NOW Blanket Authority Over Land Deemed Inadvisable, EVER READY TO ASSIST STATE Major Langfitt, However, Reports Plans Are Not Definite Enough to Show There Would Be No Conflict With Canal. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Sept. 6. For more than a month the War Department has been considering a request of the State of Oregon for per mission to utilize a portion of the Govern ment canal right of way between Tho Dalles and Celilo for a portage road. In making the request the state explained that the right of way Is amply sufficient to accommodate both the canal and the portage road, and wherever, in the opin ion of the department, the portage road would interfere with work on the Govern ment canal, the portage road could be built out of the right of way. In urging favorable action, it was represented that immediate relief to a great country above The Dalles cannot be given unlees tho engineers permit the portage road to be built along a portion at least of the canal right of way. Secretary Taft, after referring the re quest to Major Langfltt, has replied, say ing: "While the War Department will gladly co-operate with the state in every way practicable, it Is nevertheless deemed in advisable to' take definite and final action In this matter until the state shall first have deeded to the United States the necessary right of way, and until it shall have submitted to the Secretary of War a formal request for the privilege desired, accompanied by a map showing the exact line df the proposed road and th portion of tho canal right of way desired." Based Upon Report of Langfitt. Secretary Taft's reply is based upon the report of Major Langfltt, who, while anxious to deal liberally with the state and assist as far as practicable in further ing the construction of the portage road, takes the position It would be Inadvisable to grant blanket authority to the state to utilize tho right of way. He thinks the Government should look first to the con struction of its contemplated canal and grant no authority that might. In future, prove a hindrance to the Government work. He recommended that the state's request be held up until the Government actually acquires the right of way from the state. If It Is found, by comparing definite plans of the portage road and tho canal, that the two works will not con flict, Major Langfltt then advocates per mitting the state to run its portage road in part or wholly on the Government right of way. He says it is impossible, with the facts now in his possession, to deter mine whether there would be any conflict between the portage road and the canal, but he believe there are one or two places where It will be impracticable to permit the portage road to occupy the canal strip. "The Board of Portage Road Commis sioners," says Major Langfitt, "under stands fully that this ofilce will recom mend such temporary joint occupancy of the right of way as may seem not to Inter fere unduly with the construction of the canaL It has been suggested to the statfc that it would be better on all accounts to get the right of way and deed It to the United States and then submit a proposal as to the portage road. The willingness of. this office to co-operate with the stato to the full extent permitted has also been stated and is. I believe, fully understood." New Bank for Bellingham. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Sept. 6. The application of F. F. Hanschy. G. Nolte, Charles F. Nolte, E. L. Gaudette and Victor A. Roder to or ganize tho Bellingham National Bank, of Bellingham, Wash., with a capital of $100, 000, was approved by the Controller of tha Currency today. RUSSIA INCLINED TO YIELD. Modification of Rules Regarding Con traband Expected Soon. LONDON, Sept. 6. The preliminary representations made by Count Bencken dorff, the Russian Ambassador to the For eign Office, indicates that Russia is on the point of making substantial conces sions to the United States and Great Britain regarding the question of contra band of war, as a result of the submis sion by Foreign Minister Lamsdorf of the report of the general commission to Em peror Nicholas today, together with the information transmitted by Ambassador Benckendorff showing the views of the British Government. The Russian Foreign Minister Is ex pected to present to the British Govern ment, through Sir Charles Haringe, the British Ambassador to Russia, tomorrow, the formal reply of the Russian Govern ment. It Is understood in official circles here that Russia, while not acknowledg ing herself at fault for the capture made by her ships in the past, will more spe cifically describe the conditions under which certain goods, such as foodstuffs and cotton, become In her view contra band. The British Foreign Office is satisfied from the representations made to it that such substantial concessions will be made by Russia as will lead to an easy settle ment of the vexatious question S3 103.2