ill
Third Edition
5:15 A. M.
VOL. XLVI.-NO. 14,2.32.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 190U.
PRICE FrVE CENTS.
STREET-CAR
MEN Will
NOT STRIKE
Members of the Union
Decide Against
Walkout.
RADICALS ARE VOTED DOWN
Advocate Fight to the Finish
Against the Company, but
Without Success.
CONSERVATIVES IN MAJORITY
Result Arrived at After Stormy
Session.
ALL LINES REPRESENTED
Cars Taken to Barns After Midnight
and Men Assemble at Drew
Hull, Second and Morri
son, at 2:15 A. M.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
8TREKT-CAR SITUATION.
10 A. M. Commute of Portland
Trade Council waits on President W.
H. Goode. of the ctty traction lines,
to Influence him to recognize the union.
The committee la unsuccessful.
10:30 A. M. Mayor Lane Induced to
use his Influence with President Goode
to avert a strike. Mayor's visit Is
fruitless.
11 A. M. Forty-eight hours allowed
for company to recognize union ex
pires. 11 A. M. General Manager Hurlburt.
of the O. "W. P. system, receives peti
tion from men for increase in aoJaries.
12 M. Final request for arbitration
of case at issue is sent to General
Manager Fuller by Organizer Burton,
which is disregarded.
2 P. M. Notices posted by O. TV. P.
officials granting Increase In wages of
carmen.
T P. M. Conference committee meets
to formulate report to meeting of
union tufa morning.
12:30 A. M. Special cars leave barns
bringing carmen to Drew Hall for spe
cial meeting to vote on strike.
2:15 A. M. Virion men assemble. In
Drew Hal!, Second and Morrison
streets, to decide for or asjalnst strike.
4:05 A. 31. The carmen resolve to
take a secret ballot on the question
of striking:. The ltt half hour of the
the hession wan devoted to earnest
disculon and the cheering which
marked the inception of the meeting
was absent. Men coming from the
hall incline to the belief that a strike
will be averted.
4i43 A. M. Secret ballots counted
nnd found to be afralnst strike. Result
For strike, 122; HKHlnwt, Some of
the more hot-hended of the strike fac
tion are talklnjc of -wnlklujc out despite
the rote, but their declaration Is not
taken seriously.
The street-car men of Portland met at
5:15 o'clock this morning in Drew Hall,
at the corner of Second and Morrison
streets, for the purpose of bringing the
strike question to an Issue. About 200
street railway men were present when
the final meeting was called to order. At
this hour (3 A. M.) it is impossible to
make an accurate forecast of the prob
able outcome of the meeting, and the
probabilities are that a lengthy and heat
ed debute will precede the taking of a
vote. It Is not unlikely that the session
will be prolonged until 5 o'clock this
morning, though If the union men develop
the strength they claim, the matter will
be settled sooner.
It is now regarded as certain that the
strike advocates will demand that the
question be decided by a rising vote,
which plan. It is considered, will approve
a decision in favor of a walk-out. The
peace faction, on the other hand, will
make a strong effort to have the ques
tion settled by a secret ballot, giving
each man the opportunity to voice his
opinion uninfluenced by his associates.
If it is decided to strike, the result will
probably be that no cars will be taken
out by union men when the hour for
starting work comes this morning. There
are many, however, who favor leaving
the time for striking to decision by a
committee of two. limiting the number of
the committee to Insure secrecy.
Until 2 o'clock the strike advocates
were largely In the majority at the hall,
most of them being day men who had
quit work several hours before. The night
men, who did not Quit work until after
o'clock, were later In arriving, coming
to the meeting In special cars chartered
from the company.
At 3 o'clock the attendance had In
creased to at least 400, and the union
leaders, who had begun the argument for
a strike, were warming up to their work.
Wild cheers greeted each successive
speech, and the sentinels outside the
locked doors of the hall began predicting
an early decision for a strike. It was
evident that the strike advocates were in
the majority.
Defections From Union.
Defections from the cause of the union
began yesterday on both systems of the
city traction lines. Emissaries from the
union were busy talking with the men on
either end of the street-cars, trying to
put heart in them for the proposed strug
gle. There was uncertainty manifested
by the men on all the city lines. As the
threatened tieup of the system ap
proached, the men commenced to waver
as they thought of what they would lose
by going out.
A serious loss to the union occurred
yesterday wnen the Oregon Water Power
& Railway Company's men signed up
wholesale withdrawals from the union
and marched to the meeting this morn
ing with the intention of voting against
a strike almost to a man.
This is the result of work among the
O. W. P. men by officials of the com
pany. A meeting of the employes of the
system was held at the MUwaukle barn
Tuesday night when an effort was made
to line up the men with the company.
Wednesday night the men presented a
petition to the management for an In
crease In wages. Added to the petlUon
for an advance was the statement that
in consideration of such an increase, the
men would agree to stand by the com
pany through thick and thin.
There had been 60 signatures secured to
this petition to the company up to 1:30
yesterday morning. Forty of these sign
ers had written out orders withdrawing
from membership in the union. The pe
tition was taken to MUwaukle yesterday
and was returned to General Manager
Hurlburt of the O. W. P.. at 11 o'clock
yesterday morning with 93 signers and
letters from 56 of that number withdraw
ing from the union.
Yesterday afternoon the following no
tice was posted in the different barns of
the O. W. P. system:
The following scale of wages, as requested
in the terms of the petition of July IS. will
be allowed by the company to carmen on
and after August 1: First year. 23 cents an
hour; second year, 24 cents; third year. 25
cents: fourth year, 26 cents, and fifth year
and thereafter, 27 cents.
G. C. FIELDS.
Approved : Superintendent.
W. H. HURLBURT.
This flank movement put a quietus to
the desire to strike among O. W. P. em
ployes. Realizing that the movement was
losing ground on First street, union
leaders labored with the men and tried
to get them back into line. Union but
tons, which in some instances, had been
discarded, were replaced by these workers
and the men were told that If they de
serted the union in such a critical hour,
they would be blacklisted and would not
be able to ever get a job in a union town.
The men found themselves in a peculiar
predicament, but it was understood last
night that the whole force would vote al
most to a man against a strike and if one
were called, "they would refuse to go out.
There are 120 carmen on the O. W. P.
lines. Of this number, 75 are members of
the union.
Managers of the comoany are willing'
to recognise a local organization among
the men.
"If the men want a local union, they
can have it." declared Superintendent
Fields, "and the company will help them
In every way It can."
What both street-car companies object
to is the calling in of outsiders to settle
any . dispute that arises between the com
panies and their men. The O. W. P. man
agement is confident of operating Its cars
today, even If a strike is declared.
The raise in wages just announced was
a master stroke in making the men loyal
to the company, for now they are more
anxious to stay at work than they were
(Concluded on Page .V
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 82
deg. ; minimum, 50.
TODAY'S Fair and continued warm. North
west winds.
Russia.
Democrats take teeth out of address to peas
ants and radicals desert them. Page 3.
Germany and Austria to help Czar against
revolution. Page 3.
Rebels burn city of Syzran and population
flees. Page I.
Military commission sentences Stoessel to
death. Page 5.
Foreign.
Bishop accuses British troops of outrages on
Zulus. Page S.
Burning whisky flows down gutters of Dun
dee. Page L
National.
Roosevelt orders officials to enforce eight
hour law. Page 4.
Government at last buys Sunnyslde canal and
will push Yakima irrigation. Page 4.
Capital of Alaska moved to Juneau. Page 5.
Armor plate bids show how Steel Trust held
up Government. Page 1.
Politics.
Jerome condemns Roosevelt for criticising
Judge Humphries. Page 1.
Pure food convention approves Roosevelt's
action in meat scandal. Page 4.
Domestic.
Evidence of conspiracy and blackmail In
Hartje case. Page 2.
Socorro earthquake exaggerated and sever
ity decreasing. Page 5.
New suit begun against Denver franchise
grabbers. Page 2.
Olcott retires in favor of Hartridge as
Thaw's lawyer. Page 5.
Employing printers refuse to confer with
union. Page 5.
Sport.
Portland Jumps to head of the Pacific Coast
League. Page 7.
Baseball umpire pelted with eggs at Minne
apolis. Page 7.
Pacific Coast.
Dr. Thomas M. Gatch resigns from the
presidency of the Oregon Agricultural
College. Page 1.
Hill looking for a deep-water port for the
North-Bank road. Page 6.
Rev. A. A. Morrison makes gallant rescue
of young Portland girl from surf at Sea
side. Pago 4.
Brutal Tacoma stepmother nearly tears off
small boy's ear. Page 6.
Charges of bribery at Fremont County,
Idaho. Republican convention are denied.
Page 6.
Elegant spread given The Oregonian con
test girls at Huntington. Page ft.
Commercial and Marine.
Less activity In wool market. Page 15.
Small interest shown in stocks. Page 15.
Reports of rust in wheat denied. Page 15.
Longshoremen may refuse to work steamer
Barracouta. Page 14-
Pilot schooner Pulitzer arrives safely at As
toria. Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Union carmen hold meeting to vote on ques
tion of striking. Page 1.
Henry W. Miller tells how timber-land in
vestors were buncoed. Page 10
California backers of C. E. Los in United
Railways project visit Portland. Page 7.
East Side property-owners declare sale to
city of barn site is Illegal. Page 11.
Oregon grand lodges of A. O. U- W. and
D. of H. adjourn. PAge 10.
Award of contract for hose by Fire Commis
sion causes dissatisfaction among unsuc
cessful bidders. Page 16.
PRESIDENT GATCH
WILL TAKE II REST
Head of Oregon Agricultural
College Announces His In
tention to Retire.
FIFTY YEARS AN EDUCATOR
At 73 He Is Hale and Hearty and Is
in Perfect Control of and Much
Beloved by Faculty and
the Students.
DR. GATCH'S CAREER.
Professor natural sciences. Univer
sity of Pacific. Santa Clara, Cal.. 1856.
Principal Santa Cruz, Cal., schools,
1S57.
Professor mathematics. University of
Pacific, 1858.
Professor ancient languages. Univer
sity of Pacific, 1859.
President Willamette University,
Salem. Or.. 1860-1805.
Principal Santa Cruz, Cal.. public
schools. 1866.
Principal Portland, Or., Academy,
1867-1870.
President Willamette University,
1870-1880.
Professor history and English liter
ature. University of Oregon, 1880.
Principal Wasco Academy, 1881
1887. President University of Washington,
1887-1S05.
Professor political and social sci
ence. University of Washington, 1895
1S97. President Oregon Agricultural Col
lege. 1807-1906,
CORVALLIS, Or., July 19. (Special) The
annual meeting of the Board of Regents of
the Oregon Agricultural College was1 con
cluded at a late hour last night, after a
session throughout the afternoon. A no
table feature was the informal announce
ment made by a member that at the end
of the coming college year it is the pur
pose of Dr. Thomas M. Gatch to retire
from the presidency of the institution.
Advantage was taken of the occasion by
many members of the board to speak in a
regretful and eulogistic spirit, and the
sentiment of the board was reflected in
a resolution unanimously adopted. The
resolution speaks of the distinguished
service rendered the cause of education
by Dr. Gatch, renews the confidence of
the board in his capacity and wisdom,
expresses regret at his proposed action,
; r-M ttwl lew. n mm:
1 . I
and Indorses Mr. Gatch for the privileges
of the Carnegie Foundaton.
Resolution of Itegret.
In full the resolution is as follows:
Whereas, After an Illustrious career of half
a century as an educator, Dr. Thomas M.
Gatch, the illustrious president of the Oregon
Agricultural College, has expressed a desire
to retire In the near future from the headship"
of this institution.
Whereas. It seldom falls to the lot of man
as an educator to write a record so replete
with years and so rich in honor and luster
as is the distinguished service of 60 consecu
tive years rendered by Dr. Gatch, as follows,
towlt: Professor natural science University of
the Pacific. Santa Clara, Cal.. 1856; principal
Santa Clara public schools, 1857; professor
mathematics University of the Pacific. Santa
Clara, Cal.. 1858; professor ancient languages
University of the Pacific, 1859; president Wil
lamette University. Salem, Or., 1860 to 1865;
principal Santa Clara public schools, 1866;
principal Portland Academy, 1867 to 1870;
president Willamette University. 1870 to 1880;
professor of history and English literature
university of Oregon, 1880; principal Wasco
Academy. 1881 to 1887; president University of
Washington. 1887 to 1895; professor political
and social science University of Washington,
1895 to 1897; president Oregon Agricultural
College, 1897 to the present time.
Resolved, That we, the Board of Regents
of the Oregon Agricultural College, in annual
meeting assembled, renewing our confidence
and faith in Dr. Gatch as an illustrious and
wise educator, learn with deep regret of his
expressed purpose of seeking retirement from
the headship of this institution, and that It
is only with the greatest reluctance that we
consent thereto.
Resolved. That we recommend Dr. Gatch to
the trustees of the Carnegie Foundation as
one whose notable service to the cause of
education makes him a conspicuous example
of an educator whose career deserves recogni
tion and reward, and that, in the name of
the Oregon Agricultural College and acting
for it. we request that Dr. Gatch be admitted
to the privileges and benefits of the said Car
negie Foundation.
Feels He Has Karned Rest.
Or. Gatch's plan is wholly his own, and
is said to have been in contemplation
for some time. It is not due to delicate
health, as he is in robust health, and one
of the hardest workers In the faculty, in
spite of the fact that he is 73 years of
age. Those nearest him understand that
his choice is rather due to the fact that
after a round 50 years of teaching without
a break or rest, he feels that he has
fairly earned a less strenuous lot than is
Involved In the presidency of an institu
tion whose great growth, large interests
and complicated appointments and details
involve arduous and trying effort, con
stant vigilance and almost superhuman
patience, wisdom and tact.
In all of these things President Gatch
is rarely gifted, and he has used his tal
ent without stint, keeping the machinery
of the institution in complete running
order, and holding a perfect control of
faculty and students alike, and always
with most kindly relations of both. On
an occasion of public criticism of Dr.
Gatch some months ago, the students
took It up, and in the chapel gave him
a popular demonstration that fairly raised
the roof from the chapel.
Professorship May Be Considered.
The presentation of the resolution to
the board called out eulogistic remarks
by many members, notable among whom
were Governor Chamberlain, Mrs. Waldo,
Captain Apperson and W. P. Keady. The
resolution, which was informality pre
sented, was the only action taken by the
board, and all that u? likely to be taken
(Concluded on Page 2.)
UNCLE SI BLED
ON ARMOR PLATE
Midvale Steel Company Suc
ceeds in Bringing Steel
Trust to Its Knees.
BIG GRAFT IS SHOWN UP
Underbidding of Trust Exposes Ex
orbitant Prices Extorted for
Years Figures Which Argue
for Tariff Revision.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, July 15. The Democrats
are preparing to make campaign mate
rial out of the recent armor plate
award, under which Secretary Bona
parte gave to the steel trust a con
tract for half the armor required for
the battleships Michigan and South
Carolina, notwithstanding the fact
that an independent company underbid
the trust J25 to 36 a ton. According
to Democraclc leaders, the Secretary
went out of his way to favor the steel
trust, when he had it In his power to
Ignore it and throw a valuable con
tract Inco the hands of an Independ
ent competing company.
Many Republicans at heart regret
the action of the Secretary of the
Navy, for it furnishes rich capital to
the opposing party for use in the com
ing campaign. They realize thac the
question has two sides, and the action
of the Secretary can be as readily
assailed as defended. There were ex
tenuating circumstances which in
duced the Secretary to divide this con
tract, and these facts' will be brought
forward o defend the administration,
but those Republicans who differ with
Mr. Bonaparte are not enthusiastic
over the new issue that has been
created.
Government Bled by Trust.
There has been no doubt whatever
that the Government, ever sincethe
birth .of the new Navy, has been pay
ing extortionate prices for its armor
plate; prftes that were unjustifiable
and away in advance of the prevail
ing prices in foreign markets. At the
outset there was not so much protest,
for the steel manufacturers had to
install armor plate plants at consid
erable cost, and the Initial cost of pro
ducing armor plate was unusually
heavy, heavier than, the cost abroad
where plants were already equipped.
But as years went by the price of
armor plate failed to drop. Its pro
duction was controlled absolutely by
the steel trust, which got the price
it asked, for Congress would not per
mit the purchase of armor plate
abroad and there was no competitor.
Prior to 1900 the steel trust asked
J545 per ton for armor plate, and that
Is the price the Government paid. In
1900, however, the Midvale Steel Com
pany, which had been manufacturing
shells for the Army and Navy, decided
to Install an armor plate plant and
bid on the Government contracts. Ttiat
year, with a small plant, it put In its
first bid, J438 per ton, the trust cutting
Its price to $455.52, a reduction of 190
a ton. The Government wanted more
armor that year than the Midvale
plant could turn out. so the trust got
the bulk of the contract. Three years
later bids were again invited, and the
trust cut its price to $452 per ton.
The Midvale bid was $397. But again
the trust, by reason of its large plant,
got t;-.e lion's share of the contract.
The same bids exactly were submitted
irn 1905, with the same results. All
this time the Midvale Company kept
enlarging its plant, determined In the
end to get this trade, or a large share
of it, away from the, trust. So rapidly
had the new plant developed that the
trust this year was careful to reduce
its price below the last price quoted
by Midvale, one arm of the trust ask
ing only $381, the other $11 less. But
the Midvale Company fooled the trust.
Knowing its ability to produce steel
plate cheaper than ever before, this
Independent firm made a cut in its old
price of $52 a ton, which was found to
be away below the trust.
Steel Trust on Its Knees.
Finding Itself up against a cold prop
osition of dollars and cents, and facing a
competitor who could make good, the
steel trust, for the first time in its ca
reer, got down on its knees and begged
for mercy. It agreed to furnish armor
plate at the Midvale price; it pleaded for
a part of the contract on the ground that
Its plants would go to ruin If the entire
award waa made to Its competitor, and
then set up a counter-attack on the Mid
vale firm. The trust was well repre
sented at Washington when the bids
were opened, for Charles M. Schwab and
others who came here convinced the
Secretary that the trust ought to be
protected, and that the Government
would be sure of getting its armor plate
only by allowing the trust to furnish a
part of it.
Whether Mr. Bonaparte was right or
wrong; whether the Midvale Company
could or could not furnish 7000 tons of
armor plate as rapidly as demanded for
the two battleships, the whole incident
has demonstrated that the steel trust
has been bleeding the United States Gov
ernment all these years at the rate of
$100 to $200 a ton on Its armor plate, and
probably at an even higher rate. The
trust was attempting to hold up the Gov
ernment this year, else it would never
have consented to furnish the plate at the
Midvale price. And it may reasonably be
asked why this trust was entitled to any
consideration at this time, when It was
demonstrated beyond question that it
had been growing -rich on Government
contracts ever since it began furnishing
armor plate for the ships of the new
Navy. The cost of raw materials and the
cost of labor are higher today than in
1900, yet in that year the steel trust got
$545 a ton for armor plate, and now it
consents to furnish an even better grade
of armor plate for exactly $200 less per
ton.
Strong Argument for Revision.
The Midvale Steel Company has broken
the back of the steel trust on Govern
ment contracts and will probably be able
to hold down the price of armor plate in
the future if it continues to bid. True, it
received rather shabby recognition at
the hands of the Secretary of the Navy
on the latest award, for under the rules
almost universally followed In awarding
Government contracts the Midvale Com
pany should have been given the entire
contract, notwithstanding the offer of the
trust to meet the Midvale price.
But there is another way to hold down
the trust price on armor plate; that Is to
lower the tariff on armor plate and all
other products of the steel trust. This
steel trust is one of the so-called In
fant Industries which the protective tariff
was Intended to protect. It has grown
from an infant to a giant, until it can
control the American market and name
its own price. If the tariff Is cut down
on steel products and If Congress author
izes the purchase of armor plate abroad
whenever It can be bought in foreign
markets more economically than at
home, the trust will find a way to get
its price lower than it has ever been be
fore, lower than it is this year, and will
still be able to make a profit.
President Roosevelt is believed to fa
vor a revision of the tariff, a reduction
of such schedules as that which protects
the steel trust, and it is not improbable
that the recent award of the armor
plate contract may play a conspicuous
part in the fight that is bound to come
In Congress in favor of tariff revision.
MANY HIGHBALLS WASTED
Burning Scotch Whisky Pours Down
Gutters of Bonnie Dundee.
DUNDEE. Scotland, July 20. (Spe-
clal.)Over blazing whisky that filled
the streets of this town late Thursday
night, women with cnildren in their
arms sprang across the raging fiery
gutters in an effort to secure safety.
While several of them were scorched
by th3 flames, none was fatally in
jured. ,
The fire broke out in the bonded
warehouse of James Watson & Co.,
manufacturers of Scotch whisky and
one of the largest firms in the coun
try. The Are created a panic among
the innabitants, and it was hours be
fore the flames were under control.
Besides the large warehouses, a num
ber of dwelling-houses were consumed
in the flames, and the loss is estimated
at $1,250,000.
Lightning Burns Millinery Store.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 19. The
six-story brick building at the corner
of Tenth street and Broadway, owned
and occupied by the Frankel-Frank
Wholesale Millinery Company, was
partially destroyed by fire this after
noon. The entire stock of millinery
was destroyed, loss, $2 JO, 000; Insur
ance, $1"0.000. The fire started In the
sixth story, which was struck by lightning.
JEROME DEFENDS
IMMUNITY JUDGE
Condemns Roosevelt
for Criticising Him.
SAYS HUMPHRIES OBEYED LAW
Judge Cannot Bend to Public
' Opinion, He Says.
LAWYERS' DUTY DISCUSSED
District Attorney Says People Should
Criticise Laws, Xot Judges.
How Public Opinion Sets
Aside Laws at Will.
WARM SPRINGS, Ga July 19. Dls
trict Attorney Jerome delivered an ad
dress on "Public Opinion, Its Power,
Some of Its Evils and Injustices and Our
Duty as lawyers Toward It." before the
Georgia Bar Association tonight. In the
course of his address Mr. Jerome referred
to President Roosevelt's criticism ot
United States Court Judge Humphries,
saying:
There Is one Injustice which public opinion
not infrequently dues; it is one which lawyers
can do much to correct, and that Is ths
criticism of Judges for decisions which they
could not avoid making if they obey the law.
The recent spectacle of the Nation's chief
executive, himself not a lawyer, criticising lnv
a public document a Federal Judge for his de
cision on a point of law, has not, I believe,
commended Itself to the profession. The laws
are ours. Public opinion made them and can
change them. Every citizen has a right to
criticise them and seek their amendment or
repeal, but while they are our laws we want
our Judges to obey them a:, l not substitute
for them something they deem in .accord with
a thing so mutable and difficult to ascertain
as public opinion.
Power of Public Opinion.
In the beginning Mr. Jerome said there
were men guided by a high sense of duty
who would do and continue to do their
duty as they saw it, regardless of the
majority opinion which we call public
opinion. He continued:
The man who declares he Is indifferent to
public opinion. If he be not a fanatic, la
often something of a fool and a knave. To
a public officer ths discharge of his duty
with or in the fsce of public opinion Is like
the running of an engine with oiled or sanded
bearings.
How potent U public opinion is everywhers
evident to the lawyer. In my own state the
constitution prohibits gambling and enjoins the
Legislature to pass laws to prevent It. Ths
Legislature, however, has dared to pass a law
which, while In form aimed to reform gambling
on race tracks, was notoriously designed to
protect It, and this was possible only becau&e
public opinion permitted It. "Whatever Its
cause and whatever Its history, public opinion
stands today as the most important single
Influence In the Nation.
In many parts of the country, and especially
In our great cities, a man's ability to com
mand a hearing must depend largely upon the
newspapers, and It Is by them that the great
est justice and sometimes the greatest Injustice
is done.
Lawyers' Great Influence.
As to the part the sneaker contended
lawyers should take in influencing public
opinion, Mr. Jerome said:
If the power of public opinion be so great
and if each of us has a not inconsiderable
capacity to influence It, it seems almost need
less, because so obvious, to point out how of
all classes of men the lawyer especially can
Influence it and is under duty to do so. For
weal or for woe, in proportion to our num
bers, we are, or can be. the most influential
body of men In the country.
PILLAGE CITY
RUSSIAN REBELS APPLY TORCH
TO THRIVING SVZRAX.
Terror-StrJckcn Inhabitants Robbed
as They Flee to Forests and
Neighboring Cities.
SYZRAN. Russia. July 20. Setting Are
to the town the rebels have caused the
inhabitants to flee and the whole city is
in flames. The government buildings and
treasury are on Are and the inhabitants
are seeking refuge in the surrounding
forests. Many of them have already ar
rived at Samar in the province of Sim
birsk, and they tell harrowing tales of
incendiarism.
Not only have the rebels sought to de
stroy the town by the toich. but they
have robbed und pillaged where they can
and the fleeing inhabitants have been
stripped of all their possessions.
Syzran had a population of 35,000 and
was one of the commercial towns of rapid
growth.
WILL DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT
Czar May Appeal to Universal Suff
rage and Name Dictator.
COLOGNE, July 19. The Gazette's cor
respondent at St. Petersburg asserts on
reliable authority that the Russian gov
ernment has agreed in principle to dis
solve Parliament and order new elections
on the basis of universal and direct suf
frage. The reason given Is that Parlia
ment is exceeding its prerogatives.
The correspondent adds that, if there,
should be an outbreak of a revolutionary
movement, the government has decided
to establish a dictatorship.
Austria Says She Will Not Meddle.
VIENNA. July 19 The report published
In St. Petersburg that under certain con
ditions Russia will be assisted in sup
pressing a revolution in Russia. Is denied
here.
Bandits Rob Cashier on Train.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 19. Five armed
men today attacked a cashier oi board a
rairway train between Rostov on Don and
Veronezh, escaping with $12,500.