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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 1905)
VOL. XLY.-NO. 13,943. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. TERMS ARRANGED ON TRREE POINTS Conference for Peace Makes Progress. HARD NUTS YET TO CRACK Deadlock May Come on Sak halin Cession. e WITTE WINS AN ADVANTAGE Japan Agrees Both Belligerents Must Leave Manchuria Pro tectorate Over Corca and Cession of Railroad. YOKBED OK BY PEACE CONFER ENCE. Japan's preponderating influence In Ceroa. Both Russia and Japan to evacuate Manchuria, respect the territorial In tegrity of China and maintain Hai rights of all natlans in that province. I Russia to ecde to China the Chinese Eaxiern Railway from Harbin south ward. PORTSMOUTH. N. H.. Aug. 14. Al though very rapid progress -was- made with the peace negotiations today, three of the 12 articles which constitute the Japanese conditions of peace having been agreed to by Mr. Wltte and Baron Rosen on behalf of Russia, neither of the two articles to -which Mr. "Wltte in his reply returned an absolute negative was reached. The crisis, therefore, is still to come. It may be reached tomorrow, as the cession of Sakhalin comes fifth in the list. The three "articles found." as they are officially designated in the brief communications authorized to be given to the press, which wore disposed of to day, arc in substance as follows: First Russia's recocnitlon of Japan's "preponderating la&uenca" jomd -special position in Cerea. -which Russia hence forth agrees Is outside of her sphere of Influence, Japan binding herself to rec ognize the suzerainty of the reigning family, but with the right to give advice and assistance to improve the civil ad ministration of the empire. Second Mutual obligation to evacuate Manchuria, each to surrender all special privileges In that province, mutual obli gation to respect the "territorial integ rity" of China and to maintain the prin ciple of eaual richts of all nations to that province (the open door). Third The cession to China of the Chi nese Eastern Railway from Harbin south, -ward. There was never any question about the acceptance on the part of Mr. "Wltte of these articles, the first two covering in more emphatic form- the contention of Japan in the diplomatic struggle which preceded hostilities. Railrond Is Indirect Indemnity. The cession of the railroad, the build ing of which cost Russia an Immense sum, estimated bv some at between $109, 000,000 and ?200.000.000. is to China. Japan and China, therefore, arrange between themselves the method' by which, the for mer Is to be remunerated, and, through this financial operation, Japan might have a very considerable portion of her claim for the "expenses of the war" liquidated. The railway Is ostensibly the property of the Russo-Chinese Bank, al though built by government money ad vanced through the bank, and on its completion operated, managed and pro tected by the Russian government. Japan cannot take the railroad herself. To pkfie herself in Russia's shoes recardlnc- the railroad would be militarily to control the destinies of the three provinces of Man churia, which she has promised to re turn to China. But Japan Is entitled to reimburserhent for the expense to -which seh has been put In restoring the rail road below the present .position of Llnle, vltch's army, rebuilding the bridges and narrowing the gauge. If China could not find the money, some other power or powers might do so. and the rbad -would I become hypothecated to the powers -which advanced the monov. as other Chinoso Broads are to those who advanced the Emcney for their construction. It was Mr. wltte himself -who organized the tusso-Chlnese Bank in 1895. and who has Jways been considered the real orean. iztr of the Chinese Eastern Mr, Beig. the attorney for the Russo- fclnese Bank, which owns oraetleallv n. If not all. of the shares of the rnaA ie Attached to the Russian mission. Both sessions of the conference tndav ire described as amicable." There were leveral slight jars, but none of jthem fas serious. The plenipotentiaries am Ihowing admirable tempers. The change tne weather may be partially rosnon- ple for the serenity manifested at the inference table, but it -would be probably o much to say that the fate of such a pgantie negotiation had been affected by high degree of temperature and a few aousand mosquitoes. Reach Stumbling Block Todny. romorrow in the ordinary proceedincs le first stumbling-block to a treaty of race should be reached, as after Port rthur and the leases of Liao Tunp lilch are Included in article 4 i&nd which jr, Witto Is undoubtedly prepared with Ight modifications, to accept, comes ar- fcle 5 the cession of Sakhalin. But it is by no means certain that, when this ob stacle is reached. It will not be post poned until all the articles on which agreement is more easily possible are dis posed of. If this course is allowed, and the Associated Press has high authority for the opinion that it will bo. It will In dicate a disposition to put off the real struggle to the very last and the longer the conference 'endures the brighter, the prospects of a treaty arc likely to become. "Even" day they sit." said a very high authority, "increases the chances of peace." Mr. Sat told the Associated Press to night that he came to Portsmouth hope ful of a successful Issue of the negotia tions and nothing had occurred to altar his optimism. The language of th three Articles adopted today will form practically the text of the treaty of Washington, if one is signed, subject, of course, to a. final revision. Each side has agreed to the articles and they are added to the proto cols of each day's session which are of ficially signed by the plenipotentiaries the next morning. In addition to the minutes kept by oach side, there Is an abbrev iated record of the discussions giving the arguments made on each side of every point, which are duly attested, so that, when the conference Is ended, the rocord of the proceedings will he complete. Of course, the agreement article by article does not bind either Russia or Japan until a final agreement Is reached and the treaty is signed. It Is, however, sig nificant that Mr. Sato, while specifically stating that he did not speak officially, gave as his opinion that each power had now bound Itself to the articles agreed to. Russia's Diplomatic Victory. In the discussion of the second article (covering the evacuation of Manchuria) It Is positively stated that Russia won a vic tor. Baron Komura, so it is declared, wanted to limit to Russia the obligation to evacuate Manchuria and to surrender special privileges In the province, where as Mr. Witte contended that the obliga tion of evacuation and the surrender of special privileges should be mutual and that the evacuation of the troops should take place concurrently. Mr. "Witte is said to have contended that he was de fending not only the Interests of Russia but of all the neutral powers. On the other hand, the Japanese claim they did not resist the demand for a .simultaneous evacuation by the troops of both coun tries because the distinct tone of the stip ulation remains in the preservation of the territorial integrity of Chine, A Japanese authority said to the As sociated Press tonight: "The integrity of China to assured If the treaty of "Washington is signed, as Japan has Instated that this point be set forth in language that can neither be evaded nor mrpuadorsteod. Japan's at- LONDON. Aug. IS. The Dally Tele graph's Vienna correspondent under stands that Ruwta will propose dominion ever Sakhalin similar to that which existed peter to' 1S4S. titude has always been In line with the Hay doctrine, and will find a more vigor oup expression in the treaty of "Washing ton " . It is tfs declared on behalf of Japan that she only asked that Manchuria rc jnaln for a certain period under Japanese control. Only enough time is desired to enable the armies of Japan to evacuate the province and by the time this evacu ation is accomplished. It le expected China will have established the neces sary system of' courts and will be In a position to maintain order throughout the province. Japanese Insist on Secrecy. The Japanese are not swerving from their policy of secrecy regarding the ne gotiations. "Within the last few days the strongest pressure has been brought to boar on Baron Komura and Mr, Taka hlra to modify their decision, but to no effect. The Japanese reply to all such arguments Is that, having entered into this agreement at the suggestion tof Rus sia. It is not for Japan to break it off. "The subject has never been seriously talked of," BAld the Informant of the Associated Press. "I do not say that Baron Komura and Minister Takahlra should change their position, evon should Mr. "Witte present the official protest of which he says so much, but the presenta tion of such a protect was at any rate given an opportunity for serious discus sion. To the suggestion that Amorfcan public "might be alienated by the Japanese policy of silence in the face of the publtc-ex-preBsod wish of the Russians for -publicity, the reply Is made: "We do not seek to obtain public sym pathy. American friendship. If It be sin cere, as we believe It Is, will not be over turned by the fact that Japan, after a solemn compact entered Into with Russia, refused, in pursuance of all International precedent, to make public the negotia tions now in progress until some agree ment shall have been arrived' at- So far from loring friendship in this country, we believe the Japanese plenipotentiaries will gain them by the stolid way by which we follow this course." y The special prlviioges enjoyed by Ruspla in Manchuria, the retrocession of which Is provided for In article 2, Include many concessions, none of which are. however, said to have groat importance, the prin cipal one being the mining rights in the Province of He Hiung Kian. RUSSIA PUTS ON BODD FRONT Says Japanese Must Abate Demands If Peace Is to Come. ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 14. The Asso ciated Press Is in a position to declare that practically the only hope entertained in high Russian official quartors for a peace agreement at the conference at Portsmouth lies In the expectation that Japan will recede materially from her terms as published. Official and public sentiment regarding the possibilities of peace outlined ,to the Associated Press by an official who has constant and close relations with the highest authorities Is as follows: "That the terms are regarded In their ontirety as quite Impossible of acceptance and close scrutiny has not remo-ed the very unfavorable Impression their first POISON ENOUGH FOR TEN SCORE Chemical Analysis of !e and Stomach. Show Its Presence. . MRS. VAN DRAN MURDERED Xot a Clew' Is Discovered Iendlns Toward the Perpetration of the Crime "Which Caused the Death of a "Woman. The sample of gingerale remaining in the battle bas fceen found to he saturated with potassium cyanide. The etomaeh contents have been also analyzed aad found saturated with the peuon. In the stomach the potassium cyanide has undergone a chemical change, due to the acids In the stomach and has become hydro cyanic actd. The lining ef the stomach Is high ly congested. The bottle haa this Mown Into it: Pioneer Bottle "Works, P. O. That Mrs. Xaspor Van Dran's death was causod b;. drinking- gingerale which contained enough prussic acid to poison at lout Sou persons, was estab lished last night beyond any doubt. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Mary E. Par jeer and Dr. Marie D. Equl, assisted by I Victor Hampton, M. D., re moved the stomach of Mrs. Van Dran. The chemical analysis prove J what the doctors found In the examination which they made for The Oregon Ian Sunday night, that Mrs. Van Dran met her death by drinking gingerale that had been druggod with oyanide of potas sium, which, aftor It had come In con tact with the acids of the stomach, be came hydrocyanic, or prussic acid. Xot only did the analysis of the stomach show this, but the fow drops of the gingerale. which remained in the bot Uo, when tosted by Dr. Parker, showed the prosence of the same deadly poison. Coroner "Will Hold Inquest. Coroner Finky, who bas taken an -active Interest- in developing eauee of death of Mrs; Van .Dran.. will hold an inquest this mcrnrag at ro o'ol'dfiL It1 had-been the Intention of Mr. Van Dran to ship the body of his wife to Albany for burial, but the funeral will be de layed until aftor the inquest. The mystery surrounding the death of Mrs. Van Dran la still shrouded In uncer tainty and In spite, of the work of De tective Joe Day, who was detailed on the case yesterday, no tangible' clew bas been obtained. Every possible clew that would tend to the unraveling of the murder mystery, has been run down and late last night the officers con fessed that tfrey had been baffle J at every turn. Jewels Were Xot Stolen. For a time yesterday It was believed that three rings, a solitaire diamond riag. a Ting with three small diamonds and a turquoise ring, surrounded with 14 dia monds, whleh Mrs. Van Dran was In the Habit of wearing, were missing, but the jewels were found last night by Miss Minerva Monteith, a sister of the dead woman. In an onera-gtess hag in the dining-room.- "When the loss of the rings was discovered; it was believed that they had been removed from the finger of Mrs. Van Dran as she lay on the floor in the kitchen. The family missed the jewels and. had reported the loss to the police, but they were anxious that nothing be said about thorn. In some manner the disappearance of the rings became known to others outside of the family and found Its way Into print. It Is believed now that Mrs. Van Dran. Instead of wearing thom on Saturday night, carried them down-town with her In the opera-glass bag. Chcmlcnl Tests of Stomach. The chemical tests of the stomach and that of the small portion of gingerale which was -left in the bottle, made by Dr. Parker and Dr. Hampton, wero proved as clearly as the tests which were made Sunday night. The walls of the stomach wore contracted and inflamed, and the liquids taken from the stomach responded as readily to the chemical tests as those taken from the glass from which Mrs. Van Dran drank the fatal dose. Both doctors who made the examinations are experts. Dr. Parker studied chemistry under Professor Frank Green and Pro fessor Charles Jones, and was an honor student in Professor Green's class. Aside from the fact that. she was asked to make the analysis for The Oregonian. she has taken a deep interest in the case because both she and Dr. Equl were personal friends of the dead woman. In the minds of several persons who were present at the Van Dran home shortly after Mrs. Van Dran had swallowed the deadly gin gerale, there was the opinion that tho death-dealing drug had been placed In the glasses, and4iot in the bottle. This -was due to the vivid discoloration of the fluid that was in tho glasses, which was not apparont In the few remaining drops loft in the bottle. The analysis which was made, however, proves that the poison was placed in the bottle. Crime Is a 3Iystcry. "Whether the death of Mrs. Van Dran will ever bo solved and tho guilty ones brought to justice Is a question. , Jt will take the skill of a Sherlock Holmes and an Old Sleuth to solve. Almost ahy per son can buy cyanide of potassium, for It is- used extensively In photography. "While it Is one of the most deadly poisons known, it Is less difficult to obtain than carbolic acid or other poisons. Prussic add is more difficult to obtain, and any one purchasing it from a drugstore would necessarily have to sign a book Which is kept in all drugstores to regis ter the sale of all poisons. It is believed by Dr. Parker that either the powdered or crystal cyanide of potassluniSvas used. Both could have been used as a saturate solution, emptied into the bottle and the wire fastener wrenched back Into Its place after the poison -had been poured Into the bottle. "Will Search Drugstores. It Is tho Intention of Joe Day to make a systematic search of all the drug stores in the city, for the purpose of find ing out if any person has recently bought prussic acid. If druggists nave followed the law. which demands that they keep a register of all poisons sold and for what purpose. If prussic acid has been sold he will be able to discover, perhaps, who bought the poison. If. on the other hand, cyanide of potassium was used, there Is little chance of discovery, aad the death of Mrs. Van Dran may -pass Into history as one of the unsolved crimes and mystorles. Watt Monteith. a brother of the dead woman, will arrive from San Francisco Wednesday morning, and. on account of tho Inquest, the funeral services, which will be held at Albany, will not take place until Thursday. LOVERS KILLED TOGETHER TrfEIR AUTOMOBILE DASHED TO PIECES Bi" TRAIX. Daughter of "Wealthy Chlcagoan and Xcw York Police Commissioner Meet Sudden Death. RUTLAND. Vt., Aug. 14. Deputy Po lice Commissioner Harris Llndsley, of Xew York, and Miss Evelyn P. Willing, of Chicago, were almost Instantly killed at Pike's Crossing, near Bennington, XL. this aftornoon. when a Xorth Branch train on the Rutland Railroad struck the automobile In which they were traveling. Miss Wllllng's nephew. Ambrose Cramer, and the chauffeur. J. Adarason, were thrown out and badly bruised and cut. but not seriously Injured. The engine was thrown about IS feet and the tracks were torn up for MO feet. The automobile was dashed to pieces and afterward was destroyed by fire. Miss Willing and Mr. Lindsley were to have bee. i married next week. The Injured were removed to the hos pital at the Soldiers' Home, and were resting comfortably tonight The accident occurred shortly after 4 o'clock this afternoon as the party was travoling up a steep grade leading over the crossing. Mr. Lindsley, and Miss. Wil ling occupied the rear seat of the car. a big touring machln The boy and the ohauffeur-were, lnnjh front There Is a curve near the crossing, and Adamson stated that he did noi see the train until It was upon them. Engineer Sibley and Fireman Mangan make the same state ment. The tender struck the rear .seat of the automobile, which was thrown about 60 feet. The locomotive left the rails and plowed over the ties for nearly 100 feet. Lindsley was Instantly killed, and Miss Willing survived the accident but a few minutes. Miss Willing and Mr. Lindsley were to have been married next week. The for mer was about 33 vears of age. a grand daughter of cx-Governor Mark Skinner, MRS. KASFER of this state, and the daughter of Mrs. Willing, who gave the Mark Skinner U- brary to the town of Manchester. DAUGHTER OF RICH CHICAGOAX Miss "Wllllng's Engagement Was Sur prise to Her Xelghbors. CHICAGO, Aug-14. Miss Evelyn P. Win ing, who was killed near Bennington. Vt, today, was a daughter of the lato Henry J. Willing, who was a partner of Mar shall Field for many years, and was ono of Chicago's wealthy men. Mies Willing, who waa prominent in society, spent most of the Winter and the early part of this year In Xew York, returnnlg to Chicago early In July. The announcement of her engagement to Harris Lindsley. of Xew York, waa a surprise to the fashionable set In Chi cago. Xo definite plans for the w.eddlng had been arranged. t Miss Willing loft here for Xew York'July 29 to make a motor tour of the East with Mr. Lindsley and other friends- STANDS FIRE IS N REfiL UTILE Captain Taggart Not Shaken by Merciless Cross Examination. FORCED TO TAKE PLEDGE Says He Could Xot Banish "Whisky From House, but Denies Being Drunk "What Aroused His Suspicion. W003TER, O., Aug. 14. (Special.) When the Wayne County Common Pleas Court adjourned this afternoon. Major E. F. Taggart. the plaintiff in the divorce case now being heard here, was still on the stand, still unperturbed and still standing the merciless fire of a most skillful cross-examination by Judge M. L. Smyser. Just before court adjourned this after noon Judge Campbell read the following pledge to which Taggart's name Is affixed: I, E. F. Taggart. do hereby promUo mr commanding officer to abstain from the use of ail Intoxicant while I am an Army officer in the United States Army, and I further more promise never again to wrongfully ac cue my wife of wrongdoing. I write this of my own free will and without mental refer "ration, and write this as my resignation from the Army, to bo forwarded to headquarters as my resignation, whenever, in the opinion of my commanding- officer, I shall have vio lated .thin pledge. (Stsned) K. F. TAGGART. July 5. 1SOS. - Taggart's attorneys at once made ob jectiou to the offering of the pledge, say ing that It was given under duress and it was the only method the Major had of getting released from captivity. Could Xot Banish Whisky. - "Why did you not banish whisky from your house?" shrieked Judge Smyser to Captain Taggart on cross-examination. "It was not practicable," said the officer, biushlngiy. -Here a volley of quostlons was fired at the witness 'about the beer drinking contest In the garrison at Fort Thomas. Judge Smyser wanted to knovc why depositions had not been taken about this contest. "Were you operating that canteen?" said the Judge. "I may have been- I did .operate, it at. one time," answered Taggart. "Would you take your wife's word?" "I would then; now I would not!" "When dkl you learn to doubt your wife's word?" "It was when she came up from the cellar with Lieutenant Fortesaue one time." Until he went to the Philippines witness thought the only troubles of consequence were the Fort Thomas drinking bout and the Matanzas inoldent. There was one trouble that ran along between us, which was never fixed up VAX DRAN. until the final separation." said Captain Taggart. "That was the subject of Mrs. .Taggart's associates. We frequent?; talked of that In Manila." Alone, He Charges Drunkenness. "In speaking about Mrs. Taggart's be ing drunk at Fort Thomas," said Judge Smyser, "of all persons who were there that night you stand here singly and alone as tho only person to charge this little woman with being drunk." "I left the matter with my attorney to work up the evidence as he saw lit." Tho Captain denied ever having been drunk. "Did you ever call Fortescue's attention to your wife's suspicious conduct on the night in question?" "I never did." "I only slapped my wife once In Manila." raid Taggart, Mrs. Vose was not there. I was sober and had not been away from my house that night" x - On the occasion at Fort Leavenworth, when the heart-to-heart talk in the up stairs room between Taggart and his wife occurred, the counsel endeavored to put a different construction on the con versation by asking witness if he had not apologized to his wife for his conduct, if he had not told her he. was not doing right, if he had not said that he did not know what was the matter with him, that he must see a doctor. Witness denied this In toto. Denies Assault on AVifc. Then, taking up the night of the event ful June 30, .1901. when Captain Poore brought Mrs. Taggart home. Judge Smyser asked: "At once you grabbed her?" "Xo." "She got those marks on her face from you?' "She did not." "Were you drunk, or sober that night?" "Sober as I am now," "Did not Thomas Moraklo get you a cup of coffee the next morning?" . Indications are that It will be two or three days before the plaintiffs case is finished. REVENUE MEN SHAKEN UP FOUR AGEXTS ASKED TO HAXD IX RESIGNATIONS. Commissioner Yerkes Agitates Su bordinates In Widely Scattered . Sections of Country. WASHIXGTOX, Aus. 14. The Star tonight says: There has been a big shake-up among the agents of the In ternal Revenue Service, but just how far it has gone is a matter of specu lation. It Is stated, however, that four well-known revenue agents have been asked for their resignations and that at least two of tho four have come here for a conference with Commis sioner Yerkes..of the Internal Revenue Bureau. These are Captain Charles II. In gram, In charge of Xew England work, stationed at Boston, and C. H. Burg, who has had a section of the South west under his charge and has been located In Texas. The names of the other two agents could not be learned today. Sends Souvenirs to AVIlkesbnrre. ' WILKESBARRE. Pa.. Aug. 14. Presi dent Roosevelt who was a guest here on Thursday last, has sent autograph pho tographs to Mayor Fred C. Klrketvdall and Rev. J. J. Curran. of this city. The photographs bear tie inscription. "With pleasant memories of an interesting city." CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 71 deg.: minimum. 57. TODAY'S Fair and. warmer. Xerthweat winds. Teace Conference. Agreement reached on Coroa, Manchuria and the railroad. Page 1. Discussion of Sakhalin may begH today. Page 1. Russia may proposed joint government ef Sakhalin. Page 1. Japanese defend, policy of sereey. Page 1. Witte confers with Amerieaa Jews on op pression of RuMtan Jews. Page 3. Oyama ready te fight whenever negotiations are broken off. Page 1. Pbrelgn. Norwegian government tells nation's plans. Page C. Russia buying heavily in Ameriea. Page 4. Ignatieft's warning to Czar nt te dely re forms. Page 4. Referee make award on French ckttms against Venezuela. Page -. Xatlonal. Shents tells of work or Panama Canal. Pag 4. President hfts Moody's recommendation for Oregon Judgeship. Page Fulton denies he nakl Bean waa recom mended, but his latter contradicts him. Page ". Scandat in Army clothing contracts. Page 5. Shake-up among internal revenue agents. Page 1. Tolltlcs. Taft abandons ambition for supreme bench and turns towards Preaidoney. Page 1. ' Domestic Pair of lovers, instantly killed in automobile wreck. Page 1. Decrease of yellow fever in New Orleans: Increase on plantations. Page 3. Major Taggart stands fleree are of cross examination. Page 1. Tactile Coast C. A. Chapman, a Bend merchant, chokes in well; friend who tritfs to h)p him is now a maniac. Page G. Mrs. Grassel wanders In sleep, near Tacema, olad in night apparel. Page G. Reform School escape fires fusillade of rocks at his pursuers. Page Oregon Library Commission meets and maps out its general policy. Page 6. Lawyer Collins enters violent denial to tes timony in trial for extradition. Page c. Commercial and Marine. Hood River apple jjrop sold. Page 15. Hop sales at Yakima. PageMR Chicago wheat market weak on prospects of largn Russian crop. Page 15. Liquidation causes easy grain market at San Franeisco. Pago 13. Stock prices go up with a rush. Pago 15. Steamers found at Astoria. '.Page 12. Telegraph will run to the bar. Page 12. Wrecked Tricolor abandoned. Page 12. Japanese lines resume Trans-Oceanic run. Page IS Iewi3 and Clark Exposition. Admissions. ,16,060. Page 10. Olympla. will have a day at the Exposition. Page 10. Portland and Vicinity. Patriotic sons ready to save Oregon politi cally. Page 11. Fire truck and street-car collide and five firemen are hurt. Page 16. Council declares war on Mayor. Page 14. Civic problems require genius. Pag 10.' Validation of tickets Is heavy. Page 10. Railways will fight Joint rates order of Washington Commission. Page 14. Crook Mitchell, through negligence of de tectives, goes free. Page 14. Special policeman accused of assault and attempted extortion. Page 5. Congress, of the West ready ta meet. Pago 10. Chief of Police Grltzmacber asks for three more detectives. Page 14. Executive Board and street matter. Page 11. Enough poison found in gingerale and In stomach of Mrs. Van Dran to have killed 200 perrons. Page JU TAFT TURKS EYES 01 PRESIDENCY Series of Successes Changes Ambition From Supreme Bench. SO SAY CLOSEST FRIENDS Record as Governor of Philippine and Secretary or War Has Put 3Iim in the Lead With Hoot. OREGONIAN NEWS BURSAU. Wash ington, Aug. 14. Men very ckwe to Secre tary Taft declare that the Secretary of War has turned his eyes away from tb Supreme Bench and now ha thra riveted on the Presidential chair. They mr he has been listening Intently to tho bwcz of the Presidential bee until he has ftaet all interest in his protHiect of becom&tg Chief Justice of the Supremo Ctuct. They further declare that the Socrotoury has now reached the siagu whr he would decline an offer of the Chief Jo-tk-t-shlp, fearing it wmtM injure Mk chances for the Presidency. This may be so: Taft 1ms not seafcon of It publicly, ami no one ean speak au thoritatively on the subject. But it b oah natural that he shouhl have experteMMNl a change of spirit. Moot men wwU prefer the Presidency to the otfle of Chief Justice, especially when there wufcl be prospect of securing the litter oMeo after a term In the White Hons. Tntft would not be blamed if he uclmed tm be come Chief Justice.' if he is strttfly nursing a Presidential boom, mm! Mk friends assert that he is. His Ambition Has Grown. In the days when Taft waa ruMttog things In the Philippines, and even be fore he was selected .for that duty by President McKlnley. he aspired to a umce on the Supreme bench. At nrst he wouM have been content with a. more "ptaou." but after he had made a success of his administration in the Philippines, hie am bitions rose and he aspired te become Chief Justice. Since then Taft has nmdo ' a wonderful record as Secretary of War. Like Ellhu Root,,' before him, he has proven himself to be a man of the Roee -velt typo, a man who "does thteg And what Is more, he does them proper ly. As Taft has grown in prominence, ho has grown la favor, and as his popularity increased, there has been more and more talk of nominating him for the Premdoncy In 1S0S. Naturally these nattering ropoctH have come to his ears, he has been as sured of the loyal support f many load ing Republicans. While Taft has now launched his own boom, his friends have attended to that for him. and they novo met with much encouragement. The re ception accorded the Taft boem migJtC very naturally Induce the Secretary to decline a place on' the Supreme bench, for It hns been demonstrated beyond a doubt that Taft Is one of the two strong est candidates the Republicans can. produce In the next campaign. Fight Between Hoot and Taft. Many things ean happen before tho Summer of 1906. but. if there is no ehango in the eourse of events, and Taft uoen not become Chief Justice, the Aght for the next Republican nomination is al most sure to be between Taft and Root. Shaw will be in the running; so will Fairbanks, but these men don't measure up to Root or Taft, ami could probably land the nomination only in the event oC a deadlock between the Root and the Taft men. In some ways Taft has an advantage over Root. It woukl be difficult to do crlmlnate between them as to eompatoncy or fitness for tho Presidency, but of tan two, Taft Is much more anproachaMr. much more cordial ami makes frionite much more readily than Root. More over, he lacks Root's tendency to satire, an Instrument that has killed more than one prominent politician. Both Root aad .Taft are admired by the rank aad tile of the Republican party; Republicans be lieve the country would be safe under either man as President, but when ic comes to a choice; Taft's genial nature, his whole-souled, open-hearted manner and his ever-present cordiality are goto? to count In his favor. If Taft does not go on the bench. Root will have the tussle of his life to seewret the nomination, but from present indioa tions, the chances of the two men are about even. It Is impossible to plek tho winner. WIIiL SIT OX liAFOLLETTJE. Senate AVill Kcscnt Xew Member's Attack on Railroad Passes. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Aug. 14. Governor LaFollette, Winconsin, when' he resigns his present office and takes up the duties of United States Senator, 13 going to receive a very severe Jolt at the hands of his colleagues. If he carries out a programme which ho recently outlined to one of his friends.' He Intends, so It is reported, to iatroduco and press a bill at the coming session prohibiting Senators and Representatives from accepting railroad passes. Of eeurso the bill won't pass; It won't even be con sidered. LaFollette may, if he persists, be able to make a speech on the subject: he may be able to point out the ill-effects of tne National Legislators accepting favors from the railroads for which thej must legislate, and in his arguments he will have tho right of It, strictly speak ing, but his words will have no effect. The Senate is not going to pass any bill depriving Its members of one of their most sacred and most valued privileges. LaFollette is a very radical reformer; Concluded 4m Pag