if VOL. XLIV. NO. 13,693. POKTLAND, OKEGON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2S, 1904. PRICE FIVE GENTS. STB PS FOR WAR Britain is Making Her Ships Ready. RUSH ORDERS GIVEN Great Quantities of Coal Are Being Bought. GHANNELFLEETSAILSTQDAY Several Torpedo -Boats Leave Tangier Fully Equipped. CABINET'IS CALLED TO MEET New Complications Raised by the Re port of Russian Admiral on the Trawler Incident Will Be Considered. Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky's ex planation -of the attack of his squad ron on British trawlers probably turned the current of diplomatic ne gotiations into a new channel. The British Foreign Office, is. In courtesy, obliged to accord an Investigation into circumstances narrated by the Russian Admiral, reinforced as it Is by the testimony of subordinate of ficers of the squadron, and by the report of the Danish Minister of Ma rine, communicated to the Russian Government that vessels were known to have been chartered at Hull and in Sweden by the Japanese govern ment for the purpose of attacking the Baltic squadron during Its pas sage of the North Sea and English Channel. Fending developments In diplomatic exchanges the British Admiralty is showing the utmost ac tivity in bringing fleets within the course of the Russian squadron. The Russian ships at Vigo, Spain, It Is promised, will depart as soon as necessary repairs are completed. France and Germany may be re garded as throwing the weight of their Influence In the scale for peace ful conclusion of the controversy. LONDON, Oct. 28. Notwithstanding the diplomatic check in consequence of Admiral Rojestvensky's report. It Is evi dent that Great Britain is preparing for the possibility of war. Tremendous ac tivlty Is reported- from all dockyards. where vessels under repair are being made ready for sea under urgent orders from the Admiralty. "While no time limit for the receipt of Russia's reply has been fixed, it Is gener ally understood today that the route of the Russian squadron past Gibraltar will be barred by the Channel squadron, com xnanded by Vice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. Perhaps the most significant develop ment Is the Cabinet meeting which is called for noon today. While the call was Issued prior to the receipt of Rojest venskys report, which changed the situa tion considerably and appears to place some of the burden of proof upon Great Britain, the meeting undoubtedly marks the reaching of a serious stage. The ships of the British Channel fleet cleared their decks this afternoon. It Is rumored that the whole fleet, with the exception of the battleship Caesar, will steam westward tomorrow with the al leged purpose of making a sham attack against the Rock of Gibraltar. Several torpedo-boats left Tangier this afternoon, fully equipped. A division of the Mediterranean fleet. comprising six battleships, all the armor ed cruisers and 20 torpedo-boats, Is ex pected to arrive here tomorrow. At Cardiff it Is stated that Admiralty agents are securing great quantities of coal for Gibraltar. Portsmouth, Malta and other ports and' paying high freights. The Mediterranean fleet is hastening In the direction of Gibraltar, and it is announced that the Channel squadron, with decks cleared, will leave Gibraltar early this morning, it Is alleged; the object being a sham attack on the rock. The home fleet likewise is concentrated. In fact, al most the entire British navy Is pointing in the direction of the Baltic fleet, a por tion of which Is expected to sail from Vigo during today. While up to the present time the gov ernment has maintained an almost com plete silence with regard to the progress of the affair, it Is considered almost cer tain that Premier Balfour, who will make a speech at Portsmouth tonight, will, af ter a conference with the entire Cabinet, "be In a position to make some definite an nouncement. Public sentiment which hitherto has been kept under remarkable control, will hardly stand the passing of another day, especially "because of the opportunity af forded by Mr. Balfour's appearance on the platform, unless some satisfactory ex planatlon is made. It might be said that yesterdaywas the first time any real excitement was ex perienced on the part of the public. Early editions of the afternoon papers calculated to arouse the most Intense national feel lng. positively announced that a time limit had been set for Russia's reply -and that the Cabinet had been called to as semble Immediately. This brought' out a crowd In Downing street, but It quickly disappeared -when Informed the Mr. Bal four, had not arrived from Hatfield House and that they -were 24 hours ahead of time. Admiral Hojestvensy's report seemed "to stagger almost everyone. Its statements were received with Incredulity, andevl dently the reply ,was regarded as merely an adroit counter In order to gain time. The text of the Admiral's telegrams, re ceived at a late hour last night, are cal culated to Inflame Instead of allay the resentment of the British public His statement that "he endeavored to spare the trawlers and ceased to fire as soon, as the torpedo-boats were out of sight," to gether with, the virtual accusation of com plicity with supposed Japanese torpedo- boats against the fishermen Is , hardly likely to reconcile an angry nation to the possibility that there Is another side to the case calling for Investigation. SITUATION MOST COMPLICATED Attended With Dangerous Possibili ties for Peace of All Europe. LONDON, Oct. 27. One of the most complicated diplomatic situations In re cent history, and one that Is attended with most dangerous possibilities for the peace of the whole of Europe, exists tonight, with no sign of immediate solution. The tension that arose when the dispute be tween Great Britain and Russia resolved itself into the simple question whether Russia would, -or would not, guarantee In advance that some punishment should be administered to the offending officers of the Baltic squadron, has been modified by the Introduction of an entirely new set of contentions contained in VIce-Admlral Rojestvensky's report; yet even the most astute diplomats, who recognize a tem porary improvement In conditions, are puzzled by the complications that so curiously cause it. However, there Is to night at the embassies of the powers not concerned in the dispute a very strong conviction that a way out will be found other than In recourse to war. The Foreign Office, apparently as puz zled as the onlookers, pursues the policy of silence, and the British press is almost totally uninformed. The voluminous ex changes dally occurring between London and St. Pettersburg continue, the state ment that no reply from Russia has been received adding to the implication that Russia is ignoring the British negotia tions. It is this misconception which Is chiefly responsible for the stirring up of a popular agitation against which the gov ernment may find it hard to stand out In the .possible event of Foreign Minister Lansdowne withdrawing the demand that Russia guarantee punishment before in quiry is Instituted. Britain Must Be Less 'Urgent. Had Admiral Rojestvensky's report' not arrived, it Is probable the dispute would have been settled one way or the other to night. Its terms, however, are generally held to prevent the presentation of the ultimatum which Great Britan undoubt edly Intended to send. Although Lord Lansdowne has frankly said the circum stances reported by Admiral Rojestven- sky are to him inconceivable, the Foreign Minister Is not prevented from seeing that new light has been thrown on the "out rage," and that diplomatic usage now compels less urgent action than the Brit ish government at first contemplated. In the present temper of the British na tion, it is not at all probable that prepara tions for hostilities will be relaxed or that the popular outcry will be diminished by Admiral Rojestvensky's report; but it Is understood that Great Britain would run the risk of forfeiting, in some degree, the good will of France, and certainly that of Germany, If she proceeded to substitute warlike for diplomatic steps, of which In tention, it Is said at the Russian Embassy tonight, there is no Indication in Lord Lansdowne's communication. France Gives Britain Much Concern. The attitude of France Is held to be of the first Importance. It "was said today by the representative of another great power that if France had given definite assurances she would not support Russia in the event of war growing out of .the North Sea Incident, a hostile issue would be almost inevitable, as the temptation to crush the Russian naval power, after such provocation, could scarcely have been re sisted by Great Britain. It Is pointed out that it Is greatly to France's Interest to preserve peace, and her efforts In that direction obviously will be strengthened by not committing herself except at the last moment. So long as Great Britain Is not sure whether France will "help. Rus sla she will not be likely to engage in war; while Russia, with France neutral. would. It Is thought at most of the em bassies here, scarcely invite defeat. The most probable solution of the rumors re garding France's position is said by a high authority to be that she has given both disputants to understand that she does not desire to become involved, but has reserved her final decision. Ambassador Cambon was unceasingly active throughout the day, not only in visiting Foreign Minister Lansdowne and Ambassador Benkendorff, but others of his diplomatic colleagues. Hayashi Sure Admiral Is Wrong. Baron Hayashi, -the JapaneseMlnlster, after reading Admiral Rojestvensky's re port, again reiterated his statement that it was impossible that any Japanese tor pedo-boat could have been where the Rus slan Admiral thought them. He declared that Rojestvensky's own statement of In discriminate firing after such slight In vestlgation proved that the Russian fleet was likely to menace the safety of all neutral seas and make International law merely a farce. War between England and Russia, Baron Hayashi frankly ad mltted, would be greatly to Japan's ad van tage; yet, as a friend of England, he would be sorry to see It come, though such a war could hardly consist of more than one naval engagement, the result of which would be a foregone conclusion. Exactly what method can be taken to Investigate Vlce-Admlral Rojestvensky'; statements does not clearly appear. The Russian Embassy here can throw no light upon the alleged presence of torpedo-boats In the North Sea, the British Admiralty has no information, and fresh Inquiry amofig the trawlers elicits no new facts. The Russian Embassy thinks a further and more elaborate Inquiry is proceeding at Vigo, where the testimony of the offi cers participating in the affair Is being minutely recorded. So far as known here, the United-States Is not moving in the, present dispute. ON T Russian Admiral Says He Acted on Defensive. REPORT MADE TO CZAR Two Torpedo-Boats Repre sented to Have Made Attack. PUBLIC ACCEPTS HIS STORY It Raises a Direct Issue With Britain, but tho People Are Willing to Back the Government to the Utmost Extremity. STATEMENTS OF AD1HKAL. Two torpedo-boats advanced to attack, without lights, under the cover of dark ness. One of the torpedo-boats was sunk. The detachment endeavored to spars fishing-boats. There was not a single torpedo-boat in the Russian squadron. The steamboats were not aided be cause they were" suspected of complicity. No warship, even in the time of deep peace, would have acted otherwise. ST. PETERSBURG. Oct. 2S. (3:10 -A. M.) The mystery of the trawler affair. Instead of being cleared up by "Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky's report today, ap pears to be deeper than ever. The Admi ral declares he was attacked in the dark ness by two torpedo-boats which came upon the squadron from the direction of the fishing fleet. He opened fire and be lieves he sank one of the torpedo-boats, the other making off under cover among the fishermen. As soon as he noticed the fishermen. Ad miral Rojestvensky ceased firing. He pro ceeded on his way without leaving any vessel behind, and says he believes the vessel which the fishermen reported re mained on the scene for six hours without offering succor to the-drowning was tho other torpedo-boat, either waiting for her conBort or repairing damage Inflicted by the fire of hl3 ships. The Admiral de clares no torpedo-boats were with the squadron. In concluding his telegram. Admiral Ro jestvensky expressed In the most warm hearted way tho regrets of tho whole squadron to the fishermen who had suf fered, and to the families of the victims. The Admiral's explanation Is hailed with the greatest satisfaction at the Admiralty and elsewhere, but It Is felt that a direct issue has now -been raised between Great Britain and Russia, and the issue has entered on a more delicate stage. Pub lic sentiment in both countries doubtless will demand the most searching Investlga tion to establish facts, and probably neither nation will be willing to accept the result of an ex-parte Inquiry by the other. The outcome probably will be a mixed tribunal of some sort. This, at least, is the suggestion of some of the cooler men here, as It Is felt that only thus could a repetition of the Maine In quiry be avoided. Public Stands by Admiral. Popular, excitement has reached a pitch unequaled since tho beginning of the war. Public sympathy and confidence un doubtedly are with Vice-Admiral Rojest vensky, and should Russia choose to stand upon his version without further Inquiry there Is no question that such a course would be popular with the masses, who would be willing to back the government in the controversy to the utmost extrcm ity. It is most improbable, however, that the government will adopt such a course, It Is much more probable that after the first flush of excitement has faded, a middle way will be found whereby the facts can be established and the national pride of both countries maintained. Rojestvensky's report was telegraphed from "Vigo direct to the Emperor, who re ceived It "Wednesday night. It was com municated yesterday to Ambassador Har dingo by Foreign Minister Lamsdorff him self. There is reason to believe that the Brit ish Embassy was also acquainted with in formation which reached the Russian au thorlties some time ago of the arrival at and subsequent mysterious disappearance from Hull of 20 Japanese, mention of which was made in these dispatches Oc tober 25. Bears the Admiral Out. It Is pointed out that the original ver sion of the Incident, as recited by the cap tain of tho trawler Moulmein, coincides closely with Rojestvensky's. The captain said that while the squadron was passing ho suddenly noticed two torpedoboats which approached so near that ho thought .they intended bombarding him, when tney sneered on, neaamg oacK xor the squadron. Almost Immediately after the squadron opened Are. Since Rojestvensky's report specifically states that there were no torpedoboats with the squadron when the Incident oc curred, the statement of the captain of the Moulmelncompletely corroborates Ro jestvensky. It Is said that torpedoboats attacked the leading Russian ship. They dtsre garded the signals to keep off when picked up 'by the searchlights and fire was opened on them. Rojestvensky refers to and replies specifically to the reports In the Brit ish press, showing that he had the press accounts before him when he wrote the report. Some of his Ian guage is sarcastic especially when speaking of the appearance of the tor pedoboats from the direction of the uritisn nsnermcn, conveying an inn matlbn which certainly will arouse re sentment in England. He declares that no other naval commander at. sea under similar circumstances would have failed to open fire, and adds he courts the fullest Inquiry and sug gests that a court of Inquiry could be held at Vigo. In diplomatic circles Rojestvensky s re port created the keenest Interest. One of the things particularly pointed out Is the fact that Rojestvensky's report was writ ten after he had seen the foreign accounts of the affair. The Admiralty 13 unable to explain why, after being attacked, he waited four days before reporting, and that he then took pains to reply to the al legations of the press. In some quarters this Is regarded as suspicious. Of course, the government accepts the report in per fect good faith, but if an Inquiry should prove that the report was prepared to shield himself, the most severe punish ment will be meted out to him. If. on the contrary, it is proved to be correct. it will place Great Britain in an awkward position. Reports that Great Britain has demand ed the punishment of the authors of the trawler Incident are untrue. Great Brit ain has not yet made any specific demands except for an Inquiry, pending which there can be no question of a demand for pun ishment. DISPATCHES FROM ADMIRAL, Torpedo-Boats Advanced to Attack Under Cover of Darkness. ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 2S. The Naval General Staff publishes the following dis patches from VIce-Admlral Rojestvensky: "First dispatch. The North Sea incident was caused by two torpedo-boats advanc ing to attack without lights, under cover of darkness, against the vessel leading the detachment. "When the detachment turned on Its searchlights and opened fire, tne presence of several small steamboats re sembling steam flshlng-boats was discov ered. The detachment endeavored to spare these, and ceased firing as soon as the torpedo-boats were out of sight. "The English press is Indignant because a torpedo-boat left by the detachment on the spot until morning did not aid the vic tims. Now, there was not a single tor pedo-boat near the detachment, and none was left behind, consequently the vessel remaining near the small steamboats was that torpedo-boat which was not sunk but only damaged. The detachment did not aid the little steamboats because we suspected them of complicity on account of their obstinately cutting Into the order of tho positions of our vessels. Several df them showed no lights, and others only very late." "Second dispatch. Having met several hundred flshlng-boats, the squadron showed them every consideration except when they were in company with foreign torpedo-boats, of which one disappeared. while the other, according to the fishers' own evidence, remained among them until morning. They supposed it was a Russian and were indignant because It did not aid the victims: but It was foreign, and re mained until morning, seeking the other torpedo-boat, its consort, either to repair damage .or.through fear of betraying Itself to those who were not Its accomplices. If there were also on the spot fishermen lm prudently dragged Into the enterprise, beg In the name of the whcle squadron to express my sincere regret to the unfortu nate" victims of .circumstances under which no warship, evgh in time of deep peace, could have acted otherwise." POSITION TAKEN BY RUSSIA. No Foreign Power Can Demand the Punishment of the Officers. LONDON, Oct. 27. The Associated Press understands that tho new phase In troduced Into the, situation by Rojest vensky's report was tho almost exclusive subject of discussion at the two confer ences between Ambassador Benkendorff and Foreign Secretary Lansdowne today, In consequence, the question of punish ment Is held in abeyance. Lord Lansdowne, it is stated, said to Ambassador Benkendorff that while the circumstances reported by Rojestvensky were Inconceivable to him, he quite un derstood that the Russian government was bound to take the word of Its own Admiral. The opinion expressed to the Associated , Press at the Foreign Office was that it Is ridiculous to suppose that two torpedo-boats could lie unnoticed among the vessels of the fishing fleet As regards the British demand for the punishment of the Russian officers being an Infringement of Russia's sovereignty and rights. Ambassador Benkendorff, In his interview with Lord Lansdowne, main tained that such punishment must be taken on the spontaneous Initiative of the Emperor's government and that a de mand from a foreign power that Russia shall punish her officers cannot be enter tained. ' In any event It was Impossible for the Russian government to mete out punish ment without having before it a statement of facts as presented by Its own officers, Count Benkendorff also pointed out that the Emperor's telegram was re garded by all Russians less as a personal communication to King Edward than as an expression of the sentiment ofUthe whole Russian nation. Ambassador Benkendorff paid another visit to Lord Lansdowne at about 3 o'clock this afternoon. This caused con siderable bewilderment here, and there is beginning to be evidence of some dispo sition to believe In the possibility that tnere is anotner side to the fishermen's story, aria" that the situation requires more light. The Foreign Office regards the state ment of the captain of the Swedish steamer Aldebaran, now at "Gefle. Swe den, from Hull, England, as being very important In Indicating that the Russians had previously fired ona defenseless ship, wnen tnere was no question of the pres ence of torpedo-boats. SPAIN WILL LET SHIPS COAL. Each Vessel In Vigo Will Take on 400 Tons and -Sail Today. VIGO. Spain, Oct 27. The Spanish au thorlties have now given permission for the Russian squadron to coal, limiting each vessel to 400 tons. The squadron will sail tomorrow at daybreak, its al leged destination being Tangier. As Admiral Rojestvensky was lea vine the palace of the Military Governor of vigo yesterday, an old man stepped for ward and kissed his forehead. The crowd which witnessed the Incident loudly ap plauded, and the Admiral appeared to be much affected by the popular ovation. The Mayor of Vigo addressed the Ad mlral in the name of the city and tho na tlon. wishing glory to Emperor Nicholas and prosperity to Russia. Will Allow Ships to Make Repairs MADRID, Spain-, Oct 27. M. Schevitch. the Russian Ambassador to Spain, and Foreign Minister San Pedro had a long conference here today. The government has authorized the Russian warships at Vigo to remain in-port and- complete re pairs on condition that they leave imme diately-after repairs- are compl-etao. KING 111 A SNARL 'olitical Storm Center of Washington. MEAD IS IN NO DANGER Complications May Gut His Majority Somewhat FOUGHT BY LIQUOR INTERESTS Former Adherents of McBrlde Are Out Working for Entire Ticket Effect of Seattle's Desire for United States Senator. SEATTLE, "Wash., Oct. 27.t-Staff Corre spondence.) King County Is engaged in the very strenuous task of sustaining her well-earned reputation as the? political storm-center of the State of Washington. The fact that King County emerges from these periodical cyclones in much the same condition as the brlndle pullpup that toyed with the Kansas cyclone. In Eugene Ware's famous poem, has In no wise dis concerted her, and a storm that will break at Olympla early next year Is now gather ing fast at Seattle. It Is still early in the game, but the United States Senatorshlp is rapidly being drawn into the snarl which has already reached a state of desperate Intricacy. The complexity of the situation east of the Cascade Mountains was such as to preclude anything like an accurate esti mate as to the outcome of the approach ing contest, and on this side of the moan- tains the matter becomes still more diffi cult. Given a certain number of voters and under normal conditions the leaders of the respective parties can figure out with a fair degree of accuracy about how many should land In each camp. But political conditions in Seattle are not. normal, and the problems regarding the age of Ann and similar questions are plain and easy compared with the work of determinln, how many votes will be cast In Seattle and for whom they will bo counted. Registration Lists Padded. Tho pre-eminent factor in this --uncer tainty la the registration lists. These lists show something over 27,000 votes In Seat tle, but the most sanguine political boss does not expect to see 27,000 votes counted The 'padding" In the lists Is estimated at from 2000 to 4000 names. Several hundred of these names are said to belong to in dividuals who kindly lent them to friends before they (the owners of the names) de parted for Alaska, Mexico and other lands. It is even stated that many of these names were contributed by unpro- testlng tombstones in adjacent cemeteries, The Republicans are assuming that the most of this padded registration is of a nature hostile to their interest, and for that reason they will endeavor by close attention to business to prevent too many of these votes being counted. It Is ex pectlng too much to hope that they will be entirely successful In shutting out this illegal colonization work, and it accord ingly becomes Impossible to figure accu rately even on the number of votes that will be cast. Eliminating this padded registration ele ment from the situation and In the divis ion of the legitimate vote it is not appar ent that Mead "will be In any danger. He will naturally run behind his ticket, as a portion of the McBrlde following is either silently or openly fighting him, and the liquor men and gamblers are also op posing him. Estimate Difficult to Make. The extent of the defection from a nor mal majority caused by these factors Is not easily arrived at. Some of the Mc--Bride-Preston Republicans and Democrats place It sufficiently high to give Turner a majority in tho county of from 2000 to 2000 votes, but from a Republican standpoint Mead Is regarded as a winner in the county by about the sme figures. More conservative Democrats claim only an even, break for Turner, and some Repub licans will bo. satisfied with 1500 majority. Under such circumstances estimates are unusually hazardous, but I think the power of the McBrlde Republicans and liquor men has been overestimated by the Turner men. In giving a basis for their extravagant claims, the Democrats figure on a solid vote ifrom. the liquor men and from the McBrlde Republicans. Admit ting that their claims are Justified, it is still impossible to figure out anything but a majority for Mead, unless too many Illegal voters get their ballots Into the boxes. This Is not a hazardous statement, for a test" of the strength of this opposition was made in the city election last Spring, when Balllnger was elected Mayor. The Preston-McBride-Gottsteln forces and the liquor men and gamblers all fought Bal linger. The liquor men and the gamblers knew, that the election of Balllnger meant a closed town. The Issue was plain and they fought him to a man, until near the close of the campaign, when Mayor; Humes quieted some of them by promising that Balllnger would carry out the policy of the Humes administration. Few of them believed Humes, and Balllnger ac tually lost -votes by the announcement, for some of the church people feared that he would do as Humes said he would and would not close the town. The saloon men had their business at stake then; now their only motive Is revenge, and It seem3 impossible for them to make a better showing than they made when the motive was stronger. Balllnger defeated the liquor men, gam- biers. Democrats and Republican sore heads by over 1200 majority. Mead will make a much better showing against this opposition' than was made by Balllnger. Numerous former adherents to the Mc- k Bride lost caase have recovered fromtlwlr sulk3 and are out working for the ticket from top to bottom and even the liquor men are not so unanimous in their sup port of Turner as they were a short time ago. ' " Then there Is a large number of influen tial Democrats who are making a bitter and uncompromising fight on Turner on account of the insincerity of his political convictions. By adding the strength of the McBrlde Republicans who have re turned to the fold since the city election, that of the anti-Turner Democrats and the liquor Interests that are now willing to have peace, to the 1200 majority of tho Spring election, the indicated size of Mr. Mead's majority In King County might be safely placed at more than 2000 votes. This on the supposition, that attempts at crooKea registration woric wui oe unsuc cessful Nor is this tho sum total of the Mead strength that may be massed on election day. . The long-cherished desire c Seat tle to be represented In the United States Senate Is being used by the Mead follow ing to force support for their candidate. Ex-Senator John L. Wilson, Jacob Furth and Samuel Piles, with strength corre sponding to the order In which they are named, are candidates for the United States Senate. Their' plans of campaign are not drawn on similar lines, but they are unanimous on one feature of the com ing struggle, and that Is that, no King County man can expect support for Sena tor from other counties if Mead is slaugh tered in this county. Mead's friends in various parts of the state have served notice to this effect on the King County Republicans and the lat ter are taking most effective means to prevent a disaster of this nature. A busi ness men's club has been formed, and with a rapidly increasing membership is hold ing daily meetings and doing most ef fective work in strengthening the Mead defences. Warned by Past History. King County Republicans have had a number of warning examples of the folly of knifing Republican candidates. When Harold Preston and his friends defeated John Wooding, the south district candi date for Sheriff, two years ago, they little realized that their work with the stilleto would coat Seattle the United States Sen atorshlp, hut that Is exactly what hap pened, and Seattle Is not at all anxious for thl3 kind of history to repeat itself. The south district has another candidate for Sheriff this year, and If he gets the kind of a deal that was given John Wood lng two years ago, trouble In wholesale quantities in inevitable, and King will need all of the assistance she can com mand from outside sources to offset the Internal dissension. ThereJs little doubt but that the Sheriff, as well as the rest of the county, state and National ticket. will be elected, but King County will .be held to strict accountability by the rest of the state, and especially by the north western counties, if she falls to give Mead a good safe majority. That the Republicans here realize their responsibility In -this direction is apparent In the earnest endeavors they are making to organize their forces to the best possi ble advantage. Evenshbufd the Demo crats succeed in counting the votes of a thousand or two "colonized" patriots, Mead should win in King County by a small majority. If the plans of the colo nizers are thwarted, his majority here should be greater than Turner will re ceive in Spokane, Whitman andLlncoln, the most rabid Turner counties in the state. E. W. W. CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER Basso-Japanese War. NORTH SEA INCIDENT Britain strips for war. Fags 1. Russian Admiral, in report to Czar, declares ha was attacked by torpedo-boats. Page 1. British Cabinet 14 called to meet today. Pace 1. British public refuses to believe Russian Ad miral. Page 3. London press, eaya -word ia now -with the Czar, but confesses country 13 on tne- eve of war. Pago 4. BALTIC FLEEIT Spain will allow Russian ships at Vigo to make repairs. Paso 6. Swedish steamship is fired upon by Baltic fleet. Page 4. MUKDEN CAMPAIGN Japanese resume tho offensive. Page . Russians are reported to have lost a number ot positions. Page 4. Chinese at Mukden expect severe fighting, and are closing up business affairs. Page 4. Political. ' Hearst's American makes bitter attack on Cleveland and Olney. Page J. Roosevelt will reply to criticisms of Parker. Page 1. Fairbanks has a very busy day in Missouri, Page S. Domestic. Great New York subway is opened. PaV 5. Indiana woman admits eh 9 poisoned stepdaugh ter, and hands- confession to Judge to read. Page 6. Airship Invented by Montana man makes suc cessful trial at St. Louis. Page 7. Supreme Court will decide whether pig lead is contraband of war. Page 5. Sports. Pacific Coast League win big victory In having a new class created and making drafting of players more expensive. Page 11. Pacific Coast League scores: Loa Angeles 10, Portland 0; Tacoma 1, Oakland. 1. Page 11. Commercial and Marine. M. H. Durst advises Oregon hopgrowera to form pool. Page -IB. Rally In wheat options at San Francisco. Page 15. Chicago wheat market excited by war news, Page 15. Effect of war scare in "Wall street. Page 15. Shipwrights etate their position in drydock affair. Page 14. Steamer Mainlander collides with tug Sea Lion and Is sunk in Puget Sound. Pago 14. Northwest Politics. Mead will have a good majority, despite com plication In King County. Page 7. Marion County will have grand Republican rally at Salem November 1. Page 7. Pacific Coaat. Millionaire Lawson declares Helnze has sold out to the Amalgamated in Montana. Page 6. Fred- P. Dixon fatally Injured in Southern Pa cific yards at Albany. Page 6. Jamea H. SewelL of Washington County, awarded prize for unique hop display. Page 7. Portland and Vicinity. Election of T. B. Wilcox to presidency of Trans-Mississippi Congress will aid Oregon. Page 10. "Children at Library are told stories of Roose velt. Page 12. 'Helen Jennings denies all charges made by her husband In divorce suit. Page 14. Owners of piers above Steel bridge want har bor lines changed. Page' 14. Taxpayers League wants all changes In city charter submitted to vote of people. Page 10. Contest for Speakership of House will become active after Presidential election. Page 10. Annual, rifle competfilon of Oregon National Guard begins. Page 10. Aeeessaaent roll of Multnomah County shows big iar ,'oybc lt jmr.- Pass 13. EftRST IS BITTEH His Paper Turns on Olney and Cleveland. SPEECHES WILL DO HARM Masses Will Conclude Democ racy Is Allied With Capital. KNOX T0LD-THE PLAIN TRUTH Party Cannot Consistently Profess Anti-Trust Principles and Consti tute Belmont and Men of His Kind Leaders. SENTIMENTS OF HEAKST. It is mere political madness to allow such Democrats as Graver Cleveland and Richard Olney to take the stump. For every Republican vote they gain, hundreds, It not thousads, of Demo cratic votes are lost. They don't repre sent genuine Democracy on the trust issue, nor "on any other which, has pop ular strength behind It. Cleveland did nothing toward prose cuting trusts when he was President; later he did his best to hinder their prosecution by Attorney-General Knox. Olney s position is no better. Do the managers suppose that-at any stage of the Presidential campaign has it been an advantage to the Democratic cause to have Belmont, of Wall street, associated with It? NEW YORK, Oct. 27. (Special.) Hearst'3 American, -which Is supposed to be supporting Parker, prints a Ions editorial today which, In part, Is as follows: "Senator Knox tells the truth when he accuses the Democratic party of in consistency in professing anti-trust principles, while at the same time in cluding among its conspicuous leaders August Belmont, Cord Meyer, Thomas F. Ryan, John B. McDonald, Patrick. McCarren. and others, .of" like ,klnd It Is mere political madness t(? allow such Democrats as Grover Cleveland and Richard Olney to take the stump. For every Republican vote they gain, hun dreds, if not thousands, of Democratic votes are lost. They don't represent genuine Democracy on the trust issue, nor on any-jther which has popular strength behind It. Cleveland did noth ing toward prosecuting trusts when he was President. Later, he did his best to hin.der their prosecution, by Attorney- General Knox. 01neys position Is no better. 'In essentials, Cleveland and Olney and their sort are as good Republi cans as President Roosevelt. They are allied with plutocracy. Do the man agers suppose that at any stage of the Presidential campaign it has been ad vantageous to the Democratic cause to have Belmont, of Wall street, associat ed with it, or Meyer, or Ryan? The names of these men imply to the peo ple's mind, trust influence in politics quite as much as the names of Rocke feller, Morgan and Baer. To the vot ing masses of both parties, the names of Olney and Cleveland carry no better suggestion of friendship for true Dem ocratic principles. But they do revive bitter memories of party betrayal and special suggestion of hostility to labor. Can the Democratic party hope to win the Presidential election without the labor vote? The eloquence of Knox has not been half so helpful to Roose velt as two speeches ot Cleveland and Olney." ROOSEVELT WILL MAKE ANSWER HeCharacterizes Charges of Judge Parker as infamous. WASHINGTON, Oct- 27. (Special.) Judge Parker's strictures against the President are to be answered by Presi dent Roosevelt himself. If the present understanding is -earned out, he will write letters to ' several personal friends, em bodying his vleW3 upon certain phases of tho present campaign. These friends will mako them public It comes from excel lent authority tonight that the first letter will be written to Senator Lodge, of Mas sachusetts, a close personal friend. In it the President will express himself as free ly as one Is permitted to do In such a missive upon what the President declares are purposely misleading statements ad vanced by Judge Parker. It can hardly bo said that the President Is alarmed over the present conditions, bpt It is true that he has become anxious over recent reports from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, West Virginia and Indiana. He fears that Judge Parker's recent utterances relative to Government al expenditures and the fiscal policy may do harm. To counteract this, Secretary Shaw, Secretary Moody, Secretary Taft and Secretary Hay have been devoting al most the entire week to denying state ments made by the Democratic candidate. These speeches have become personal and In parts bitter. But the President believes the situation demands even more rigor ous treatment. It Is said he favored mak ing a personal statement, but that he has been persuaded against that course. He has been fretting under the charge that his selection of the Secretary of Com merce and Labor as chairman of the Na' tlonal Republican Committee was for the purpose of cuerclng the trusts Into sup porting him. Mr. Cortelyou, It Is under stood, has advised against noticing the charges, but the President has now de termined to have his own. way in answer ing charges which he characterize to cloaa friends as iafasaouB.