Morning Oregonian., July 17, 1906, Image 1

Jft
VOL. XLVI.-XO. 14.229.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, JULY
1906.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
17,
STREET CAR
MEN
IKE
DEMANDS
Recognition of Union
and Higher Wages.
STRIKE SEEMS IMMINENT
Vice-President Fuller Will Not
Deal With Union.
LEADERS AVOID THREATS
Claims Will Be Presented to General
Manager of the Portland Railway
Company II Denied Will Be
Reported to Union Tonight.
STREET-CAR CRISIS IN BRIEF.
The union of Portland street-carmen
met yesterday and adopted an
agreement to bo presented to Vice
President Fuller this morning for his
signature. It is practically certain
this will be refused. Meetings will
be held today to determine what ac
tion to take and a strike seems immi
nent. The agreement Is essentially a de
mand for recognition of the union, to
gether with an Increase in wages and
the abolition of the photograph sys
tem of Identification.
In a statement to the men In the
employ of the Portland Railway,
posted last night. Mr. Fuller says he
cannot treat with them as members
of any union and the present policy of
the company will be adhered to.
International Organizer Burton says
the men are not looking for a strike
and if there Is one It will "be forced
by the company.'
President C. H. Oram of the State
Federation of Labor says a strike will
be called only as a last resort and he
hopes for. a peaceful settlement.
Recognition of Local Union 181, Amal
gamated Association of Street Electrical
Hallway Employes of America, will be
demanded of the Portland Railway Com
pany this morning by a committee chosen
from the union to present its claims to
Vice-President and General Manager F. I.
Fuller. It Is conceded that Mr. Fuller will
refuse to deal with any union committee
whatever, and a strike of the local street
car men seems imminent.
At well-attended meetings yesterday
afternoon and evening of street-car men,
an agreement containing the claims to be
presented to the company were indorsed.
Leaders of the union movement say this
action was unanimous at both the after
noon and evening sessions. Further meet
ings will be held this afternoon and to
night, when the result of the conference
of the committee with Vice-President Ful
ler will be announced and further action
taken accordingly. It is expected there
will be no conference, for Mr. Fuller will.
In all probability, decline to hold a con
ference with a union committee.
Gram Opposes Strike.
What action will be taken today by the
Btreet-car men Is problematical. Some
say a strike will be announced forthwith,
but President Gram, of the Oregon State
Federation of Labor, a leader In the
unionizing of the street-car men of Port
land, and in the present agitation, states
that a strike will be called only as a last
resort. "There are other means of settle
ment," said he, "and I think satisfactory
arrangements can be made without a
strike. Arbitration or other means may
be resorted to instead of a strike." The
agreement that will be presented this
morning states substantially the same
thing and does not threaten an open
ihreak with the company.
Chief of the terms of the agreement to
be presented to Vice-President Fuller to
day for his signature is the request for
the reinstatement of E. J. McKenney, a
motorman on the Washington-street line,
who was recently discharged. He claims
his afBllation with the newly-formed
union and the fact that he acted as its
secretary earned him his dismissal. Of
equal Importance with this request is the
claim for recognition of the union.
Higher Wages Demanded.
Further increase in the wages paid car
men is also prominent in the agreement,
and a readjustment of the working hours
of motormen and conductors will also be
asked. The obcJltlon of the present identi
fication system by means of photographs
Is also desired. It Is probable that the
granting of the first two terms of the
agreement, the recognition of the union
and the reinstatement of McKenney.
would satisfy the carmen and avert fur
ther' trouble.
This agreement was drawn up by the
executive board of the union, which is
made up of the following men: W. A.
Kinney. M. Mattson. C. F. Lanson. J. M
Greene. Van Kagy. H. H. Graf. O M
Moore. F. H. Tawney. G. L. Cason and
C. D. Brown. The document has been In
process of formation since McKenney was
discharged by the company last week.
Opinion among the men was somewhat
divided on the proposition. Some were of
the opinion that the document contained
too many claims, and that It would be
better to ask fewer concessions. How
ever, at both the afternoon and evening
meetings rousing speeches were made by
President C. H. Gram, of the State Fed
eration of Labor, and W. G. Burton, in
ternational organizer, as well as members
of the union. The vote on the agreement
is understood to have been practically
unanimous.
Mr. Fuller Issues Statement.
The attitude of the company toward
receiving or consideraing any requests
whatever from the union is plainly Indi
cated by the following notice from Vice
President Fuller, which was posted in the
barns of the company last night:
To the Carmen of the Portland Railway
Company :
For a long period of years the relations of
the carmen among themselves and with the
company's officials have generally been amic
able and agreeable, and this company has en
deavored on its part to deal fairly with you.
Many of your number have been engaged in
car work .r many years and are In position
to Judge of these facts.
During the !aM eight years car wages have
been advanced about CO per cent, which is as
great, or a greater. Increase than In most
other lines of work. Working conditions on
the cars have also been greatly Improved.
The pleasint relations above referred to
have durinz the p.st two months been some
what dlstu.-h id through the working of or
ganized outside IrSuences.
In view of such conditions, it is well per-
f
I mm ,m 4ro
W G. Burton. International Organ
izer, Who Is Advising the Street
Railway Employes.
haps at this time to state for the benefit of
all concerned that there has been absolutely
no change in the policy heretofore followed
by this company and its predecessors, and
the company in matters pertaining to relations
with employes will not recognize or deal
w-ith other than Individual employes or com
mittees of same appearing as such.
The officials of the company are always
glad to receive at any time any employes,
or committees of employes, who have any
matter of mutual Interest they wish to bring
up for conii.leratlon.
F. I. FULLER.
General Manager.
No further statement was forthcom
ing from officials of the company last
nlght.
"Not Looking for Strike."
International Organizer W. G. Bur
ton, who is acting in an advisory ca
pacity, as he is not connected with the
street -car service but came here to
organize the men into the union. said
"The carmen of this city are not
looking for a strike. If there is one, it
will be forced by the company. All the
carmen ask the company Is to take
this matter up with the committee and
discuss it and if the officials of the
company will do this, I am satisfied
there will be no strike.
"But the temper of the men, as
shown at the meetings today, satisfies
me thac they will insist upon the rec
ognition of their union and the rein
statement of their secretary.
In case there is a strike, the inter
national body of street-car operatives
will back the local union and this
financial backing will continue as long
as the strike is necessary, no matter
how long that may be. The interna
tional body is a strong organization
and number, I should say, fully 150,000
men in the United States and Canada."
President C. H. Gram, of the State
Federation of Labor, said:
"We are not looking for trouble in
any form. There is no reason in the
world why the company should not
recognize the union. I believe the
company will do so. It has been che
experience of other employers of labor
that it is more satisfactory to deal
with organizations than with indi
viduals. "However, if the company wants to
force the Issue, we will be ready to
meet them when the proper time
comes."
Why Was McKenney Let Ont?
E. J. McKenney, whose discharge
started the trouble, states that he was
"fired" because of his connection with
the union. McKenney is 28 years old
and has lived all his life in Sacra
mento, where for IS months he was
secretary of the street-car union. He
was in the employ of the streocar
system there for about two years. He
has been In Portland for three months.
It is the contention of the company
that McKenney was discharged for
cause other ihan his membership in the
union. "If we were weeding out the
union men, we would have begun with
the president." stated an official of the
company. "McKenney was let out for
other reasons."
The strength of the union and the
problematical issue of a strike is nat
urally being considered by both sides.
The union is said to number about 600
men out of the 800 street-car opera
tives in the city. Many of the old em
ployes refuse to affiliate with the or
ganization. The union members come
from both the Portland Railway and
the O. W. P. lines.
On the other hand, there are probably
300 applications on the watting list for
joks running Portland trolley cars. The
majority of these applicants would be
ready at a moment's notice to be broken
In on the cars. While there is a scarclty
in almost all other lines of labor, there
is said to be none in the streetcar busi
ness and that the San Francisco disaster
turned many out of employment who
could be secured. The company is busy
already In breaking in new men with all
possible haste.
General Manager W. H. Hurlburt. of
the Oregon Water Power & Railway Com
pany's lines, does not anticipate any se-
(Concluded on Page 3.)
J. J. HILL liS
SEATTLE COUNCIL
OpposesHarrimanLine
on Fourth Avenue.
FRANCHISE WILL KILL CITY
Great Northern Says New
comer Asks for a Club.
WILL NOT BE HAMMERED
Proposals Made by a Group of Property-Holders
of Entrance for the
Union Pacific Meet With
an Abrupt Kefusal.
SEATTLE, Wash., July . (Special.)
James J. Hill, president of the Great
Northern Railroad, made a two hours'
plea before the City Council committee on
corporations today, asking that Harriman
be denied the franchise he is asking to
enter Seattle on Fourth avenue, south,
to reach his passenger depot site. Hill
demanded that the Council compel the
Harriman line to secure a depot site on
First avenue and enter either on Colorado
or Whatcom avenue.
The property lying east of the Great
Northern terminals Hill demanded 6hould
be reserved for warehouse and wholesale
purposes, and the only franchises granted
should be for switching purposes. Hill
told the Council committee he was will
ing to accept the franchises for tllese
tracks and would agree to do switching
for the other roads.
No Right to Rip Up Back.
"The St. Paul road and the Union Pa
cific have as much right to come here as
we had, but they have no right to come
here and saw us up the back as they pro
pose to do in this manner," declared Hill.
He peremptorily refused to approve a
plan for opening Fifth avenue, south,
which would provide a railroad thorough
fare and save existing teaming streets.
"I don't want to put obstructions in
the way of any other roads coming here."
declared Hill, "but I don't think it Is
right for the city, or anybody else, to
injure our property for some one else's
benefit. You are asking us to buy our
own right of way, our own terminals,
and then to move off. I don't think you
ought to ask us to furnish a right of
way for someone else. Tou ought not
to try to drive us into that position. If
you do we will have to resist It."
A sharp controversy occurred between
President Hill and a group of property
owners that have asked the Harriman
line to accept Fifth instead of Fourth
avenue.
Objects to Being Hammered.
Hill refused to agree to either pro
posal, and in answer to an inquiry from
TELL
E. T. Erickson whether he would stand
by and see Harriman build up Fourth,
when Fifth could be taken and save
property interests the annoyance of
tracks running in front of their prop
erty, Hill declared it made no difference
whether Fourth or Fifth were taken.
He opposed both. Then he added:
"They are wanting this Council to give
them something they can trade off with
us, but , we will not trade with them.
They are trying to get Seattle to give
them a club to hammer us over the
head, but we don't propose to be ham
mered. "If the City Council wants to kill Se
attle, let them go ahead and do it by giv
ing them a franchise on Fourth avenue.
If the Council wants to put Seattle in a
position where it can advance, let them
refuse the franchise."
Only a Share of Traffic.
Through all his talk to the Councilmen,
Hill Insisted that the Harriman line
only meant a share in the traffic between
Seattle and San Francisco. He ignored
the remainder of the Harriman territory,
but dwelt upon the fact that his lines
have 10 per cent of the country's mileage.
Speaking of the new line building down
the north bank of the Columbia River,
Hill declared he was inclined to believe
that traffic between Seattle and Spokane
could be sent by way of Vancouver with
fewer train miles than if routed directly
across the mountains. Between Van
couver and Napavine Hill, he declared, a
single freight locomotive may haul a
train of 80 cars, there being a rise of but
10 feet to a mile.
Never Attempted Control of St. Paul.
In an interview here today. President
Hill denied the reports from New York
that he had attempted to get control of
the St. Paul road.
"I have never attempted that and have
not considered it," insisted Mr. HilL- "I
saw a dispatch In The Oregonian the
other day to the effect that an alliance
was forming between the St. Paul and the
Harriman interests. I heard this story
several times in New York and I would
not be surprised if it were true.
"We have to find a site for the storage
of wheat. I do not know whether we will
be able to get it at Smith's Cove or
whether we will have to secure other
property. It is possible that we will have
to store wheat temporarily at Tacoma.
The Great Northern has plenty of land,
but it is not available for warehouse
purposes. Wheat must be handled on a
narrow margin and expensive land in
volves too heavy an interest charge to
make it adaptable for grain elevators.
Effect of Rate Bill.
"I do not believe the new rate bill will
prevent the Northern Pacific's operating
its coal properties. The Northern Pacific
usee three times as much coal on Its lines
as its mines produce. If the road has a
local surplus and is compelled to buy
elsewhere, I do not think any question
will be raised if the road disposes of Its
surplus here.
"The Pacfic Coast Company would seem
to be operating in violation of the law.
But they have stretched the constitution
before and may have done it again. I
do not understand the Pacific Coast Com
pany has any plan to dispose of Its coal
property. I think It will continue to
operate the mines."
TERMINAL YARDS AT TACOMA
Great Northern Will Spend Much
Money in Buildings.
TACOMA, Wash., July 16. The Ledger
tomorrow will say:
"The Ledger this morning announces
authentically that the Great Northern
(Concluded on Page 4.)
YOUR TROUBLES TO THE POLICEMAN
Another Case of " Hold Him, Anybody Can
BRING STANDARD
OILMEN TO KNEES
Government Has Evi
dence to Convict.
RAILROAD MEN AS WITNESSES
Aim Is to Prove Guilt of Heads
of Monopoly.
GIVE GRAMMAR IMMUNITY
Testimony of Highest Railroad Offi'
cials to Be Used for Indictment,
of Standard Oil Men Who
Extorted Rebates.
CLEVELAND, July 16. The Plain
Dealer tomorrow will say:
Basing his opinion upon the testi
mony already submitted to the Federal
grand jury In this district, Attorney
General Moody believes that the Gov
ernment has at last secured the evi
dence which will bring the Scandard
Oil Company to its knees. The return
Qf District Attorney Sullivan this
morning from an all-day conference
with the Attorney-General at Nfw
York yesterday will make a complete
change of the Government's policy in
connection with the fight to stamp out
trade discriminations in favor of giant
corporations.
The change of plans Includes a com
plete reversal regarding C. J. Gram
mar, vice-president of the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern Railway. Gram
mar will not be indicted in this or any
other Federal district. Instead, he will
be asked to assist the Government in
forging a chain of evidence about che
necks of some of the biggest Standard
Oil officials in the country.
Wants to Get at Standard.
Acting upon the orders of Mr. Sulli
van, Assistant District Attorney Garry
late yesterday afternoon issued anoth
er subpoena for the appearance of
Grammar before the grand Jury this
morning. Grammar, who happened to
be in the city yesterday, was served
by Marshal Banning. He seemed
pleased with the turn of events, which
makes It certain that he Is not to be
made the scapegoat for violations of
the law on the part of others.
The switch on the part of the Gov
ernment in finally deciding to summon
Grammar as a witness is explained by
the statement made yesterday that tlie
single desire of the Department of
Justice at present is to get at the
Standard Oil Company. A telegram
from Mr. Sullivan said thac nothing
was to be left undone to accomplish
this purpose. The Attorney-General is
firmly of the opinion that Indictments
can be secured here, and Mr. Sullivan
Hold Me."
will resume work with the grand Jury
today with this in view.
Get Name of Guilty Official.
In addition to ordering the Issuance
of a subpoena for Mr. Grammar, Mr.
Sullivan wired to have all the em
ployes of the Lake Shore Railway who
have testified before the grand Jury
recalled. The witnesses include James
L Clark, general Western freight
agent, and C. A. Slaussan, freight
agent at Chicago, and other employe?
in the Cleveland offices.
It is known that the Government
officials are eager to obtain one more
link in the evidence already secured
against the Standard Oil Company. A
most determined effort will be made to
complete the chain through Grammar
and Clark. What the Government offi
cials particularly want is the names
of the Standard OH officials through
whom, it is alleged, rebating arrange
ments were made with the Lake Shore
and other railroads. With these names
in their possession the Government at
torneys will be ready to strike. The
attorneys are certain that some one of
the witnesses to be called today knows
the definite information so greatly de
sired. The plan is to force the giving
of the names and facts before the
grand Jury.
Purpose Shows on Face.
Mr. Sullivan gave no Intimation In
his dispatch as to the Standard Oil
officials he will go after. That the
exact programme was mapped out was
admitted in the Government building
here yesterday afternoon.
"The purpose behind the subpoenaing-
of Grammar as a witness shows on
its face," said Mr. Garry. "The change
in plans means that the grand Jury
will not conclude its Investigations to
morrow. How long before the Jury
will be ready to make its report I
cannot say."
M. G. Vilas, treasurer of the Scand
ard Oil Company of Ohio, who has been
sought as a witness, did not put In an
appearance today.
ALTON REBATE CASE APPEALED
Friendly Proceeding to Get Decision
of Civil Court.
CHICAGO. July 16. Judge Peter S.
Grosscup, in the United States Circuit
Court today granted the Chicago &
Alton Railway Company, J. N. Faithorn
and Fred A. Wann, writs of super
sedeas, staying the execution of a fine
aggregating $60,000 assessed against
the defendants a short time ago by
Judge Landis in the United States Dis
trict Court on charges of granting il
legal rebates to the Schwarzschild &
Sulzberger Packing Corporation. At
the same time a bond of $60,000 cover
ing the fine pending an appeal to the
Circuit Court of Appeals was filed by
the defendants.
This is praccically a friendly pro
ceeding, both sides to the case being
desirous of having a decision of civil
courts on the rebate question.
Butte Hotel Wall Collapses.
BUTTE, Mont.. July 16. The east wall
of the Butte Hotel collapsed at 7 o'clock
yesterday morning, toppling over on the
Southern Hotel, causing its walls to col
lapse. The loss is $6500.
A clerk at the Southern noticed the
break in the walls and got the guests
out of the hotel before the crash came.
Great Western's New Engineer.
ST. PAUL Minn., Julv 16. W. H. Chad
bourn, Jr., from Beaver, Pa., who has
been engaged in the United States Survey
Service, has been appointed chief engi
neer of the Chicago Great Western Rail
way and today assumed charge of his
duties.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 79
deg. ; minimum, 59.
TODAY'S Fair. Westerly winds.
National.
Government has evidence to convict high
Standard Oil officials. Page 1.
Plans being prepared for new Columbia bar
lightship. Page 4.
Final removal of all objections to forest re
serves. Page 3.
Foreign.
Russian Douma silences Minister by hooting
during his speech. Page 4.
TrepofTs double assassinated by mistake
Page 4.
Peace conference between Central American
republics may be held on American war
ship. Page 4.
Politics.
Georgia for Jerome and Folk In 1908. Page 2.
Bryan proposes publicity of expenses of his
reception. Page 2.
Bomefltic.
Mrs. Thaw takes charge of son's defense and
employs Olcott; meeting of mother and
son. Page 3.
Taggart wins case on French Lick gambling
dens. Page 2.
Earthquake terrifies New Mexico. Page 2.
Widow of murdered missionary objects to
compensation. Page 2.
Elks convention at Denver. Page 5.
Judge scores lawyers for trying Hartje case
in newspapers. Page 3.
Sport.
Jack O'Brien has hard fight with Berger
Page 7.
Pacific Coast.
Hill opposes Harriman franchise on Fourth
avenue before Seattle Council. Page L
Paddy Lynch, sentenced for shanghaing, is
released from Oregon Penitentiary
Page g.
The battleship Nebraska shows speed in trial
vu rugei oounu. rage 7.
Yield of the Northwest crops will be about
an average. Page 6.
O. V. Hurt offers to mortgage home to se
cure attorneys for daughter and Esther
Mitchell. Page 7.
Commercial and Marine.
Crop of Calcutta Jute largest on record.
rase n. .
Wheat strong and higher at Chicago
Page 15.
Selling pressure in stock market reduced.
Page 15.
Steamer Kitsap to have trial run tomorrow
Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Judges and clerks In Bertha precinct accuse
Fred Brandes of causing errors in Word
Stevens vote. Page I.
Street-car employes will present demands to
Portland Railway Company; strike seems
imminent. Page 1.
Body of George Mitchell brought to Port
land by dead man's brothers. Page 14.
Land-fraud trials resumed before Judge
Hunt in Federal Court, and bench warrant
issued for Martin G. Hoge, of Medford.
Page 10.
San Francisco relief committee Is closing up
its work. Page 11.
Councilman Wallace proposes amendments to
McCusker gas franchise. Page 10.
Btreet-car held up by lone highwayman.
Page 5.
BRANDES BLAMED
FOR BERTHA FRAUD
Five Election Officers
Make Statement.
HE READ THE BALLOTS
Grand Jury's Charge of Care
lessness Indignantly Denied.
INQUIRY IS CALLED FOR
Officials In Precinct 88, In Which
Stevens Gained Seven Votes on the
Recount, Virtually Lay Culpa- j
bility on Auditor's Brother.
BERTHA CONTROVERSY IS
REVIVED.
THE BALLOTS As counted by the
precinct officers, Stevens 0, Word
37; as counted under the court's
direction, Stevens 16, Word 2;
Stevens' gain by the recount, 7
votes.
WHAT BR ANDES' FIVE COL
LEAGUES SAY The report of the
grand Jury is virtually an uninten
tional insult to our intelligence;
Brandes read off the ballots as they
were counted; the three clerks did
not see them and the other two
Judges were not given an opportun
ity to keep tab on them; therefor
it is up to Brandes. We ask that
the District Attorney or another
grand Jury vindicate our intelli
gence and honesty.
WHAT BRANDES SAYS I have
never heard of this statement until
now. The men on the election
board with me are all my friends;
1 cannot imagine who is behind the
move for an investigation. We
counted the ballots Just as the
statement says, and tried to do it
fairly; I know that I am not guilty
of fraud, and think there was no
fraud, mistakes will happen.
WHAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAN
NING SAYS The matter was fully
Investigated by the grand Jury;
there is no need of a post-mortem.
I do not think there is the slightest
ground to believe that fraud was
committed at Bertha. My office
will not investigate, nor do I think
that another grand Jury will be
called. The former Jury was well
satisfied of the correctness of Its
return.
Smarting under the sting left by the
report of the recent county grand Jury
to the effect that the serious error dis
covered in the official returns from Ber
tha Precinct, No. 88, during the recount
made by the Circuit Court in the Stevens
Word election contest, was due, not to
fraud, but to the gross blunders of tha
election officers, five out of the six clerks
and Judges who counted the ballots in
that precinct have prepared and submit
ted to The Oregonian for publication a.
signed statement indignantly denying
what they term the implied accusation of
"blundering stupidity" contained in the
report.
Furthermore, In Justice to themselves as
law-abiding American citizens to whom
nothing is more sacred than the purity of
the ballot-box, the five precinct officers
assert that they would welcome a more
thorough Investigation of what they feel
ingly term "this lamentable affair," by
the District Attorney or some future
grand Jury. Bertha Precinct was the piv
otal point in the recount, and the discov
ery of the error by which Tom M. Word
had been given seven votes to which Rob
ert L Stevens was Justly entitled resulted
in the determination of the lawsuit
brought by Word in favor of his Republi
can opponent.
Fred Brandes in the Limelight.
Throughout their touching appeal for a
vindication of their education and intelli
gence the five precinct officers take pains
to make it clear that they bear no 111
will toward the late lamented grand Jury.
Over the official acts of that body they
drape the mantle of charity with which
it neglected to cover their own alleged
shortcomings, and thereby Fred Brandes,
the sixth member of the election board,
is left in the limelight.
Although the direct charge is carefully
avoided In the signed statement, the evi
dent intent of the document Is to saddle
Brandes with the entire blame for the
"lamentable affair." It Is asserted that
It was he who read the ballots as they
were taken from the box, and It is care
fully explained that only by assuming
that the three clerks conspired to make
a false tally that they can be held to
blame for the error in the count discov
ered by the court when the returns were
recanvassed. The other Judges, it is add
ed, had small opportunity to keep tab on
Brandes' reading of the ballots.
Yet there Is every prospect that the ap
peal of the five statement signers will be)
consigned to oblivion by District Attor
ney Manning, who flatly declared yester
day, after reading a copy of the state
ment, that they would get no Investiga
tion from the District Attorney's office
during his term, and Intimated that he
did not consider the prospects flattering
for the calling of another grand Jury to
review what he believed to be the emi
nently proper finding of the one Just ad
journed. Neither does Mr. Brandes, who Is a
Republican leader In Bertha Precinct, a
(Concluded on Page 14.