-J
iwi YH . imp iw yrn m
VOL.XLV. NO. 13,792.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
ALL JIBE REBELS
Students of Russia Are
for Freedom.
STRIKE IS DECLARED
No More Study Until Nation Is
Set Free,
CZAR'S PORTRAIT TORN UP
Great Meeting of St. Petersburg Uni
versity Demands National As
sembly and Freedom in
AH Things.
THREATENING LETTERS TO CZAR.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 20. Mar
tial law has been declared at Twarkoe
Sclo. owing- to numerous threatening
letters being received at the palace.
The chief of the secret police has or
dered special precautions to prevent any
outrage on the Imperial family.
BT. PETERSBURG, Feb. 21 (1:40 A. M.)
With the resolution of the student-body
of the groat University of St. Petersburg
yesterday to suspend studies for the re
mainder of the university year almost the
whole educational system of Russia has
entered upon a period of stagnation, the
protest of tho youth of Russia against
the bureaucracy and other governmental
grievances. Other universities of Russia,
gymnasia and even grammar- schools -were
already on strike and the military In
various portions of the empire have been
obliged to resort to force to restrain
schoolboys of tender years who are Join
ing In the general movement.
The meeting of St. Petersburg students,
at which over 3000 participated, beside
voting with practical unanimity to sus
pend studies until September 1. adopted a
pet of political resolutions demanding the
formation of a constituent assembly and
characterized the proposed summonsing of.
the Zemsky Sobor as inadequate for the
emergency. The resolutions, after speak
ing of "the progressive demoralization of
Russia under the influence of the absolute
regime," declare for freedom of speech,
the press, conscience, the right of asso
ciation and assembly and to strike, which
are described as necessary conditions for
the further progress of Russia. The
meeting also unanimously decided to ex
press disapproval of the government's ac
tion in dealing with the workmen who
attempted to present their petition to the
Emperor on January 22 and its sympathy
with the victims of the soldiers. A large
faction voted in favor of stopping the
war.
A strong revolutionary feeling' was
manifested, the red flag was waved and
the "Marseillaise" and other revolution
ary songs were chanted. A large portrait
of the Emperor in the great auditorium
of the university, where the meeting was
held, was torn to strips. The police did
not interfere.
Strong forces of police and Cossacks
had been posted outside the buildings to
prevent an expected street demonstration,
but none occurred.
Many professors and Instructors in the
university were present at the meeting,
most of whom were in full sympathy with
its objects. Two tutors and a small num
ber of students who wished to obtain
their diplomas this year made an In
effectual attempt to stem the general tide.
Applause for Revolution.
The meeting was held in the auditorium
of the university, a sprawling pile of yel
low buildings on Basil Island, Neva Hall
boing comparatively small and inadequate
to hold one-fifth of the large throng pres
ent. The auditorium was packed, and the
doorways and window embrasures were
banked with students. It was a strange
gathering. Most of the students were
poorly clad, and all were in a state of
Intense excitement, their very eyes burn
ing with zeal. A small rostrum In a cor
ner, was occupied by the speakers. A bell,
with -which the student who presided tried
to stop the thunders of applause with
which the orators were greeted, was com
pletely unavailing. From the outset stu
dent orators set the Imagination of their
auditors aflame with the spirit of liberty,
particularly denouncing the course of the
government, declaring that promises
could not avail, and that the only satis
faction would bo freedom of speech, and
the convening cf a national assembly.
This was coupled with a demand for end
ing the war. Almost every orator went
back to the French Revolution for par
allels. Again and again was Russia de
clared to be on the eve of revolution.
With burning words, one student de
scribed the affair of January 22, which he
said at last solidified the interests of the
Liberals. Amid a storm of cheers, he an
nounced that a continuation of study was
impossible while such a struggle was in
process, and said it was the duty of the
young men there assembled and others
like them to return to their homes in the
provinces and spread tho agitation.
Some of the professors tried to stem the
tide with moderate counsels, advising the
students to go back to their studies, but
their advice was howled down.
Opposition Is a Failure.
An attempt of a few reactionary stu
dents to hold an opposition meeting ended
in a dismal failure. Less than 50 students
responded to the call, and the meeting
was abandoned.
Tho few foreign correspondents who.
were admitted to the university were im
pressed with tho incendiary character of
the m.eetlnc and "with, the absolute free-.
dom -with which tho students, knowing
that the auditorium was filled with gov
ernment spies, boldly made themselves
liable to tho chargo of treason. In the
mind's eye one could almost pick out the
Mlrabeaus and Desmoullns, and poasibly
Dantons and Robespierres of the future.
When Professor Sperranzi, one of the
speakers, related the fact that General
Trepoff had threatened not to permit any
student who left his studies to re-enter
any of the big universities, the state
ment was received with a veritable howl
of rage.
It seemed strange, with the soldiers out
side ready to crush anything in the nature
of a street demonstration, that such a
meeting was allowed. It is necessary to
explain, however, that under the law once
a meeting is authorized, the police cannot
stop it unless the university directors call
them in.
The speeches grew more and more ex
cited. An address from Italian students
was read, denouncing the tragedy of Jan-
BILL OF RIGHTS FOR RUSSIA.
Following Is the text o the preamble
and resolutions adopted, by the meeting
of the University of St. Petersburg:
"Effete Russian absolutism la draw
ing daily, nay hourly, to Ita Inevitable
doom. Powerless to cope with an
awakened people, in Its agony It devises
one measure more ridiculous than an
other and one method more reckless than
another to delay its downfall. It en
tered upon a criminal policy In the Far
East, which has cost the people tens of
thousands of lives and millions of hard
earned money. Conscious of its goal,
tho intelligence of the students has
long conducted a stubborn flght to ob
tain the most elementary human rights,
often falling fainting before the brutal
force of an unbridled government, until
at last the proletariat entered the his
toric arena and at the same time, as It
came to the knowledge of Itself, dealt
Crardom the -heaviest blows.
"The-recent bloody incidents have
clearly shown -what absolutism Is capa
ble of In defense of Its pitiful, shame
ful existence. The sincere, fraternal,
harmonious action of the proletariat on
thepe days of January signed the death
warrant of absolutism, and without
doubt Insured the speedy political lib
eration of Rusyfa.
"We. as a faction of the educated
community, conscious of our goal, wel
come the solidarity of workmen, and
put forward the following demands:
"First Summoning a legislative assem
bly on the basis of a universal, equal
and secret ballot of male and female
citizenship; freedom of speech; free
dom of the prew; freedom of organiza
tion and striking.
"Second Amnesty for all who have
been punished for their political or re
ligious convictions.
Third The fact of belonging to any
particular nationality shall not preju
dice political rights.
"Further, as a guarantee against In
terference of the Russian government
In the free execution of these demands,
a people's militia must Immediately be
. formed In whose ranksrxll citizens oan
fight to realize our aspirations.
"Recognizing the significance of this
' "historical moment, when Russia Is
emerging from a period of ferment into
open revolt, and when 'everyone has hut
one end in view, we cannot pursue our
studies, and therefore suspend them
until September 13. By that time events
will have furnished new material for
the solution of these questions."
uary 22. and the general tyranny of the
bureaucraciy and expressing sympathy
with the Russians' aspirations for liberty.
When, shortly after 3 o'clock, a recess
was taken, the whole student body began
singing the Russian "Marseillaise," which
begins:
"You fell victims of love of your coun
try.V A wild scene followed. The students un
furled a red flag, on which was written:
"Hail to the Constituent Assembly."
With this flag the students began parad
ing the auditorium and adjoining cor
ridors. Czar's Portrait Torn Down.
A portrait of Emperor Nicholas was also
taken down from the wall and carried in
the procession. The portrait was torn in
a slight skirmish, but this called forth a
protest from the vast majority of those
present, -who were careful to avoid even
the appearance of disrespect to the Em
peror. Many proclamations were distrib
uted. When the meeting reconvened. It was de
cided to divide on the question of joining
in the general strike and vote first on the
resolutions explaining the motives of the
action of the students and afterward vote
oa the question of the strike.
A leader of the social revolutlonary
party made a speech, during which he
said, "From the height of the throne was
heard the appeal for confidence in the
people, but the period of hope lasted only
a few months. In a little while the
government returned to the good, old
methods of the lash. An autocratic regime
is inconsistent with the first principles
of -justice. The minute the proletariat of
intelligence Joins hands, the knell of au
tocracy is sounded."
Demands of the Students.
At the conclusion of the meeting, after
the adoption of a set of .strong resolu
tions, the student body, almost by unani
mous vote, decided to suspend all uni
versity work until the September meet
ing, and dispersed. There was no attempt
to make a demonstration before the Ka
zan Cathedral. The resolutions demand,
first, a constituent assembly on the basis
of universal suffrage, and under condi
tions of liberty of speech, of the press'and
of association, and the freedom of labor
ers to strike; second, full amnesty for
religious and political offenders; third,
autonomy for each part of the country
.not of Ruslan nationality.
In conclusion, the resolutions call upon
evory self-respecting citizen to struggle
for achievement of the alms as set forth.
After the meeting broke up, a band of
tne more violent students tore up the
Emperor's portrait, stripped and demol
ished the frame, and carried off bits of
canvass and gilding as souvenirs.
IN
FEVER OF EXCITEMENT
St. Petersburg Aroused by Talk of
Czar's Surrender.
SPECIAL CABLE.
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 2L "The Zem
sky Sobor will be convoked on April 3."
L.lko wlldllre tho report spread through
the capital Monday night, though it, was
impossible to ascertain whence it- had
(Concluded, oa-Pago , Four.)
MINE IS A TOMB
Over One Hundred Men
Meet Death
BY DUST EXPLOSION
Coal Fields of Alabama Scene
of Disaster.
BODIES NOT YET RECOVERED
Virginia Mine Near Birmingham Is
Wrecked, and Between 110 and
135 Men Are Entombed
in the Debris.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.. Fob. 20. By an
explosion in the Virginia mine, about IS
miles southwest of Birmingham, at 4
o'clock this afternoon between 110 and
135 union miners are entombed and it is
believed the entire number suffered an
awful death. Scores of vigorous res
cuers are" at work digging into the mine
to relieve their friends and comrades in
the inside.
The explosion is believed to have been
caused by an accumulation of dust, al
though the mine has heretofore been
noted for being entirely free from dust.
It Is also believed, that, as the entire
quota has probably been killed, tho de
tails of the cause of the disaster will
never be known.
Best Miners of District.
The camp is almost isolated from the
rest of the world, as there is no tele
phone station at Virginia and the only
wire running to the place is a dispatcher's
wire of the Birmingham Mineral Rail
way, on which Virginia is located. De
tails of the disaster were slow to come
in.
Tho class of miners employed was the
best in tho district and all belonged to
the United Mineworker3 of America.
Since the strike has been on In the
Birmingham district, many of the most
Industrious and thrifty miners of Pratt
City and other Important mining points
have removed to the Virginia mines so
that the mines were being worked to
their full capacity by the most skilled
miners in the community.
Relief Hurried to Scene.
Relief trains with surgeons and work
men wore dispatched from both Birming
ham and Bessemer as soon as the news
of the disaster was learned. They began
the work of succor In earnest and at
midnight had not dug half way through
the mass of debris. It is thought it will
be 10 o'clock tomorrow before the in
terior of the stope Is reached.
The stopes are well arranged and there
has never been the least trouble in the
mines before. They are owned by the
Alabama Steel & Wire Company, but are
leased and operated by Reld & Co.
President Edward Flynn, of the Ala
bama United Mlneworkers, and National
Committeeman Falrley, together with
J. R. Allier, district organizer, have left
for the scene. President Flynn said be
fore leaving that there were 125 men em
ployed in the mine regularly, but as yes
terday was payday he could not say
whether the full quota was In the mine
at the time of the disaster or not.
KILLED BY EXPLODING BOILER
Four Miners Meet Sudden Death and
Fourteen Are Injured.
ST. CLATRSVILLE, O., Feb. 20. Four
men nre dead and 14 injured, five of- them,
seriously, as the result of an explosion
today of a stationary boiler at No. 1
mine of the Provident Coal Company,
near hear. The dead:
WILLIAM ADAMS, president of the
local branch of the United Mlneworkers
of America.
ELI MINTY. engineer, aged 25. married,
of SL Clalrsville. O.
MICHAEL MBILI, aged 26. of Glen
coe. O.
UNKNOWNS Hungarian miner, blown
to ploccs.
Tho mine shaft, which had recently
REPRESENTATIVE C. E. TOWXSEND,
t
been completed, had not been operated
daily on account of the installation of
new mine machinery, but the employes
reported every day to learn If their serv
ices were needed. Today was wet and
cold and the men congregated In the
boiler-house, a temporary structure
equipped with an old boiler which had
been used In sinking the shaft and was
still In use pending the' installation of
the new boiler.
Without a moment's warning, the boiler
exploded with a terrific report, hurling
the men in all directions and blowing the
building into fragments.
COMMUTERS IN A TRAIN -WRECK
One Person Killed and Over Forty
Injured Near Paterson.
PATERSON, N. J.. Feb. 20. An cast
bound way train on the Erie Railroad
jumped the track three miles east of here
today. A girl was killed and many other
persons were Injured. "Five rarg were
ditched and some of them are said to have
rolled down an embankment.
An official statement from the officers
of the Erie road in this city said that the
train wrecked was a "commuters" train
that ran as a local from Middletown to
Suffem and as an express from Suffern
to Jersey City. Near Falrlawn all five
cars Jumped the track, but the locomotive
remained on the rails. It is supposed that
the wreck was caused by the breaking of
a flange on one of the car wheels.
Official reports to the Eric officials say
one girl was killed and 44 other persons
injured. The train carried 150 passengers,
most of them "commuters" bound to New
York for the day's business.
Three relief trains were dispatched to
the scene of the accident with all possible
haste.
The dead girl was Miss Grace Matthews,
of Suffern, N. Y.
An unidentified woman is suffering from
a fractured skull and will die.
ANOTHER DESERTS ADDICKS
Gas Leaking Out of the Gas Man's
Senatorial Boom.
DOVER, Del., Feb. 20. The feature of
the Senatorial deadlock today was the de
sertion of J. Edward Addicks by Speaker
Denny, of the House, who voted for Hen
ry C. Conrad, a Union Republican. Speak
er Denny's action places the Addicks fac
tion in the minority of tho total Republi
can membersliip of tho Legislature for
the first 'time since Addicks began his
contest for the United States Senate
in 1S95.
After the Joint Assembly separated to
day, the 15 men who are still loyal to Afi
dicks met and 13 of them signed a round
robin pledging themselves to support their
candidate until the session ends or until
Addlck3 announces his withdrawal. They
do not expect him to -withdraw. On the
contrary, his supporters say he will be a
candidate until the Legislature adjourns,
and will be a candidate two years hence.
Two ballots were taken today. The lest
resulted: Willard Saulsbury, Dem., 20;
Addicks, Union Rep.. 14; Henry A. Du
pont, regular Rep., 9; F. Coleman Du
pont, regular Rep., 6.
CODY BAJNK-R0BBERS CAUGHT
Utah Prisoners Identified as Murder
ers ofCasWrV-T 1 -"
SALT LAKE CITY. Feb. 2L A special
to the Herald from Vernal, Utah, says:
Albert L. Caldwell and David Fraugh
ton, who are held in jail here on a charge
of grand larceny, are identified as tho
Cody bankrobbcrs, for whom there is a
reward of $5000. Sheriff Horton. of Car
bon County, Wyoming, has arrived hero
with vV. L. Walts, who was an eye-witness
to the killing of the bank cashlo'r.
Walts positively identified Caldwell as the
man who did tho shooting and Fraughton
as his accomplice.
Both men deny that they are the Cody
bankrobbers, and state that they are will
ing to go back and stand trial.
UTAH WILL SPEND $30,000
Senate Passes Bill, and House Will
Accept Increase.
SALT LAKE; Utah. Feb. 20. (Special.)
The State Senate today passed tho bill
increasing the appropriation for the Utah
exhibit at tho Lewis and Clark Exposi
tion -to $30,000. A House bill providing for
a similar increase was withdrawn by
Representative Joseph, to enable him, it
Is understood, to increase the amount of
the appropriation.
Benson's Case Is Argued.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. The argument
in the case of Benson, Hyde and Dimond,
charged with conspiracy to defraud the
Government by securing possession of
public land in California by Illegal pro
cess, was begun today, the case of Ben
son being first considered. These men
are accused by the Government of appro
priating several hundred thousand acres
of land. The case was argued for Benson
by F. H. Piatt, of New York, and J. C.
Campbell, of San Francisco, and for the
Government by Francis J. Heney, the spe
cial attorney who has been prosecuting
the Oregon land fraud cases at Portland.
FRAMERS OF HOUSE RAILWAY-RATE
OF MICHIGAN.
mis in ju
Land -Fraud Cases
Be Delayed.
OTHERS ARE TO COME
Heney Expects More Indict
ments in April.
TO BE TOO BUSY FOR TRIALS
Court Will Move to Permanent Build
ing in May, and Then Be
Ready for the Rush of
Business.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 20. The trial of the land
fraud cases at Portland will be run as a
counter attraction to the Lewis and Clark
Exposition. United States District At
torney Heney said today that it would
not be practicable to begin the trials of
Senator Mitchell and Representatives
Hermann and Williamson until June 1.
Before he left Portland he talked the
situation over with Judge Bellinger and
it was agreed that it would be Impossi
ble to commence the trials in April.
In the first place Mr. Heney will not
get back to Portland before April 1, and
is planning at that time to resume exami
nation Into further land frauds, which ex
aminations. It is cqnfldently expected,
will result In further indictments. While
he Is conducting these Investigations be
fore the grand Jury Mr. Heney will not
be able to devote proper time and at
tention to the trials before Judge Bel
linger. The Judge, moreover, expressed tho
opinion that April would not be a good
time to Impanel a Jury, and he thought
the trials would have- to go over for a
while. In May the court will move from
its temporary quarters hack Into its
permanent quarters In the Federal build
ing and Judge Bellinger wishes to avoid
moving In the midst of the trials.
It was therefore agreed that it would
be about June 1 before Senator Mitchell
and the two Oregon Congressmen could
be brought into court" to 'answer th'elr'fe
spectlvo indictments.
WILL CONFER ON IRRIGATION
Government, Engineers Will Adopt
Final Plan for Klamath Scheme.
OREGONIAN" NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 20. A conference of reclama
tion engineers has been called to meet
ct Klamath Falls, April 1, to consider
plans and estimates for the Klamath ir
rigation project. At that meeting It is
hoped final plans may be made for buying
out owners of the small canals. Including
the rights of the Klamath Canal Com
pany. Tho Government is willing to pay
this company $150,000 to get out of the
way. The company demands more, hut
It Is believed will eventually accept this
figure.
If the proposal is accepted, the en
gineers expect to begin work on the
project during the coming Summer.
SMOOT CASE WILL GO OVER
Senate Committee Will Continue In
vestfgation of Mormonism.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU Wash
ington, Feb. 20. Contrary to expecta
tion, there will be no final action on the
Smoot case beforo the close of the
present session of Congress. In fact it
begins to look as if it would be well
towards tho close of the next regular
session before the Senate, by vote, de
clares Smoot entitled to his seat or un
seats him. When the taking of testi
mony "was concluded several weeks ago.
it was announced that the committee
would go ahead with the consideration
of the case on its merits, holding two
sessions daily, if necessary. Chairman
BILL
REPRESENTATIVE J. S. ESCn. OF WISCONSIN.
Burrows was very anxious to make a
report, and, have the case disposed of
before adjournment. Smoot and the
members of the committee were all
anxious to close the matter.
But there has been one delay after
another, practically no' progress has
been made with the consideration of
the qase, and it is now found that it
will not be possible to make a report
before March 4. Furthermore so much
time has been wasted in committee, and
the time of the Senate is so completely
occupied with the Swayne impeachment
and other necessary business, that
there would be little or no opportunity
for the consideration of the Smoot case
this session. A number of Senators wish
to make extended speeches when this
case Is before the Senate, and they will
not be able to do so before March 4.
Since It has become necessary to let the
Smoot case go over until the next ses
sion, the committee on privileges and
elections has about determined to make
further investigation into the Mormon
question. It is understood that the com
mittee will make a trip to Utah during
the recess, and will summon witnesses
and make further endeavor, in the hot
bed of Mormonism, to get at many Im
portant facts that were not brought out
In the hearings at Washington.- The
committee will continue its investiga
tions, not so much to get more light on
Smoot, but on Mormonism In general.
The subject has aroused deep interest,
and the more information the committee
has gleaned the more It hankers after.
The continued Investigation and the
postponement of the vote will not injure
Smoofs chances in the least. Smoot is
almost sure to be upheld by the Senate,
and the longer the vote is postponed the
larger it will be In his favor. While
Smoot is not a great man, he Is a bright,
congenial, companionable man of pleas
ant manner. He makes friends readily
and is building up a long list of personal
supporters in the Senate. He is accom
plishing more in this way than the hos
tile members of the investigating com
mittee are accomplishing in their way;
for, after all, there are few men in the
Senate who really care whether or not
Smoot Is a Mormon, just so long as he Is
not a polygamlst.
CARRIED TO HIGHEST COURT
Mead Appeals Against Closing of the
Roadway on Morrison Street.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 20. Senator Fulton today
presented to the Supreme Court a mo
tion to advance the case of J. D. Mead
and others against the City of Port
land. This case involves the right to
land which, it Is claimed, was taken by
the city without compensation for the
purpose of building- an aproach to the
Morrison-street bridge.
Tho property referred to is that of
the Mead estate, at tho west end of the
.MoTjcIsga-Btjeet bcldgo . - The, contest
worked its -way through the lower
courts for many months. The owners
of the property objected to the closing
of the open roadway to the old wood
yard under the approach to the bridge.
Changes in Mail Service.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Feb. 20. Eugeno I. Hobart has
been appointed regular, Rollo Owens
substitute, rural carrier, routo No. 3, at
Bellingham. Wash. Robert R. Coleman
has been appointed Postmaster at Me
teor, Ferry County, Wash., vice A E.
Wilson, resigned.
Senator Plies In Washington.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Feb. 20. Senator-elect Piles ar
rived In Washington tonight.
CONTENTS 0E TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 50
dee.; minimum. 47. Precipitation. 0.31 inch.
The War In tho Far East.
Russian cavalry raid around Japanese flank
and rear. Pace 4.
Baltic fleet lays in supplies of liquor in
Mauritius. Page 4.
Foreign.
Russian university students demand re
forms and suspend study. Page 1.
Balfour's trifling with home rule gets him
in a tight place. Page 3.
Threatening letters to Czar cause martial
law at Tsarskoo-Selo. Page 1.
National.
Baker angers tho Rouse by approving as
sassination of Scrglus. Page '2.
Senate still divided on statehood confer
ence. Page 6.
All canal commissioners took fees as Pan
ama railroad directors. Page G.
President promises thorough investigation of
Standard OH Company. Page 3.
Land fraud trials will be delayed till June
Page 1.
Politic!!.
Another member of Delaware Legislature de
serts Addicks. Page 1.
Tom Johnson makes direct charge of brib
ery against Cleveland Councilmen. Page 3.
Domestic.
Over a hundred mingra entombed In an Ala
bama coal mine. Pace 1.
Fire destroys two piers and two steamers
at Boston. Page 1-.
More revelations 4n Buffalo Bill's divorce
suit. Page 4.
Commercial and Marine.
Review of Are Insurance business In 1004.
Page 13.
Wheat again breaks at Chicago. Page 13.
Stocks resist adverse t Influences. Page 13.
San Francisco wheat market depressed.
Page 13.
Steamer Olympia may discharge Portland
loaded cargo at Seattle. Page 13.
Govrjiment pays high to get lightships to
Paclllc. Page B.
Pacific Coast.
Twelve houses In Seattle aro robbed In one
night. Page 5.
Oregon Supreme Court decides that Gugll-
elmo. the Italian murderer, must hang.
Pago 5.
Washington Senate adjourns for Elks' day;
Hnu:se held to work by Speaker Megler.
Pago 5. ,
California State Senators may be removed
from Legislature for taking bribes. Page 4.
Sports.
J. Ira. Davis Is appointed umpire. Page 10.
Portland nnd Vicinity.
Labor trouble at Lewis and Clark Fair reaches
climax. Page 12.
Four elders or Oregon City Presbyterian Chureh
deposed. Page S.
Editors of great Eastern newspapers desire
articles telling about tho Exposition. Page 8.
Four Circuit Court Judges are to decide valid
ity of direct primary law. Page 0.
Farmer swindled out of $10,000 by geld-brick
scheme. Page S.
Liquor men tell why Jaync bill was defeated.
Page 16.
Mrs. E. G. Harvey tells why she lost eenfldence
in Charity Board. Pose &.
iw IT GREW FAT
Schemes of Beef Trust
Made Public.
GOT THE FRUIT MARKET
Gained Exclusive Control Of
California Products.
HELD REFRIGERATOR CARS
Not a Box of Fruit Could Be Shipped
Except in Cars Controlled by
the Trust, Which Charged
' Accordingly.
How the "Beef Trust" obtained "ex
clusive control of the California, fruit
market, thereby taking an Important
step in its campaign against every
household in America, Is told by Charles
Edward Russell in tho following story,
which appears In Everybody's Magazine
fo. March.
Carlton B. Hutchins was a Detroit In
ventor of many useful things, and among
them of an improved refrigerator-car,-the
merits of -which lay In a woolen insulator
lining (made of tailors' scraps), which
kept the cold in and the heat out. He
managed, about 1SS6, to have Ave of these
cars built and experimentally operated on
the Michigan Central Railroad. Thcy
proved successful in every way, and he
organized the Detroit Refrigerator Car
Company, which built 50 cars under his
patent and used, them In carrying fruit
and vegetables on the Michigan Central.
In 1SSS Mr. Hutchins had a personal dis
agreement with the president of that rail
road, who. promptly ordered the cars off
the road. The Detroit Company was,
therefore, left with 55 cars on its hands.
Mr. Hutchln's eldest son, Eugene, came
to Chicago and went up and down South
Water street trying to find som.eone to
take the cars and .operate them. He
stumbled upon ' the Arm; of F. A. Thomas
& Son, then doing a general commission
business In the street, and aroused the In
terest of the junior of the Arm, Mr. Bert
Thomas. No one at that time had tho
slightest conception of the enormous earn
ing possibilities of the refrigerator-car,
but Mr. Thomas thought the venture waa
worth trying.
His firm ran the refrigerator-cars for
a few months east and west, and finally
sent some of them to California after
deciduous fruit, a thing never before at
tempted. Mr. Bert Thomas was an ob
serving young man. He noticed that at
one cent a milo (rental paid by railroad
companies for privilege of hauling refrigerator-cars),
the returns from a car
that rolled to the Pacific Ocean and back
were goodly, without regard to any other
business it might do. He believed that
he had a good thing, and pushed it to
the utmost. Meantime Mr. Eugene Hutch
ins had been elected to membership In
tho Union League Club, where he had
talked refrigerator-car possibilities to a
few fellow-members. Two of these, tho
brothers William H. and Harry M. Huh
bard, had some money, and. what was
more important, had standing at the
bank?. M Hutchins induced them to
join him in organizing the Hutchins Re
frigerator Car Company, capital stock
$1,000,000. of which only $200,000 represented
cash invested-. They bought out the old.
Detroit Refrigerator Car Company by
paying the Detroit stockholders In Hutch
ins stock, share for share. They elected
themselves officers of the Hutchins Com
pany, and then, with the two Thomases,
father and son, proceeded to organize the
California Fruit Transportation Company
(familiar in trade history of the C. F. T.).
with a nominal capital stock of $200,000,
none of which was paid In, and of which
they were the sole holders. They next
made a contract between themselves a3
the CallforniiT. Fruit Transportation Com
pany and themselves as officers of the
Hutchins Refrigerator Car Company, by
which the California Fruit Transportation
Company rented the Hutchins cars at
$S.33 a month each. They were then ready
to do business.
Equipment Is Increased.
The first move was to increase the equip
ment. This was done through the Central
Trust Company of Philadelphia, which
furnished the money for new cars and
took the Hutchins Company's car-trust
scrip at 5 per cent, being a virtual lein
on the cars. The new equipment was dis
persed about the country, more especially
about California, which, had been found to
be a promising field. At the end of the
first year. November 30. 1S90, the hooks
showed a net profit of 5SS.000. after paying"
all expenses and repaying a loan of $35,-
000 at a Chicago bank. Most of this
profit had been made in the California
trade. AH but $8,000 of this was appor
tioned among the happy speculators of
the C. F. T., and the pleasing operations
of the company were resumed. The sec
ond year, ending November 30. 1S91, showed
a net surplus of $129,000 above all ex
penses and the Interest of the car-scrip;
so that in two years, or rather less than
two years, the venture had more than
repaid every dollar Invested in it.
The six financiers now concluded that
they had something better than a gold
mine and were vastly elated. They voted
themselves good salaries as officers of the
California Fruit Transportation compan
they voted themselves fat dividends as
stockholders therein, and nothing seemed
as easy as making money.
A great part of the fruit handled from
.(Concluded on Page 12.).