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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1906)
.Iff' PORTLAND, , OREGON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. XLVI.-XO. 14,333. TORRENTS SMEPIG RICH LAND White,StuckandGreen Rivers Drive Farm ers From Homes. THREE MEN LOST IN FLOOD Small Towns in the Vicinity of Seattle Are Under Water. STREAMS FLOW IN STREETS Northern Pacific Has Lost Three Steel Bridges. SEATTLE IS CUT OFF Great Northern Is Not Able to Move a Train, and Pouring Ptain Threatens Still Greater Destruction. WORST STORM OF WINTER. ) Swollen ty the fcontlnued heavy rains and the melting snows, the Wil lamette rose two, lnchk an, hour yester day aod continued f come up last nirht. Yesterday thi river rose 2 4 feet at Portland- and It Is expected that the stream will cover the lower inrkm along the waterfront before the flvd subsides. All th tributaries of the river are pouring in freshets which are caus ing flood condition In the lower river. At all points above Portland, the river continues to rise rapidly. The danger point at Portland is considered l.Y It now stands at a fraction over 10 feet. Last night's storm was the worst of the Winter in Portland. The rain fell In a heavy downpour that was accora- panied by strong winds. The streets were running with water. Similar conditions reported up the Valley in dicate that laM night's rainfall win materially add to the height of the river. Flood In the river at Portland at this time of year are attended with much more danger to shipping and property along the waterfront than during the Spring freshets when back water from the Columbia prevents a swift current here. The Willamette stood at the following heights yesterday: 2 a Q . a -3 tag c S STATIONS ? g g : ?S ?s EugMie 10 I 6. SI ti S: los Altanv in 7 .'V 2ft 2-1 6ilem .. 30 10. S 4 0 .08 Portland IS 10.3 3.4 .28 SEATTLE. Wash.. Nov. 14. (Special.) Floods In tha White, Stuck and Green Rivers, which began last night, have swept away miles of railroad trackage Inundated ail the valley towns, rendared hundreds of farmers homeless and cost three lives up to date. Until the Western Union tonight succeded In getting a wire to Portland. Seattle was entirely cut off from the outside world by either railroad or telegraph lines. The telephone com pany has kept up two wires, but this was the only means of communication Seattle has had all day. The three men lost In the floods were drowned while fighting to break up log Jams that threatened railroad and county bridges. F. W. Kallmer, of Auburn, was drowned in the White River, and two loggers employed by the Decker Lumber Company, lost their lives while working in the Green River above Auburn. It will be two weeks before the North ern Pacific Is aule to resume regular train operations. The Great Northern is tied up for a shorter period, for the troupe on that road is due to an avalanche of mud that swept out a portion of track. Small Towns Under Water. Auburn, Kent, O'Brien, Benton. Oriellla and half a dozen smaller towns in the valleys of three rivers are under water. Residents of O'Brien were compelled. at noon today to abandon their homes and flee to the hills. At Kent a raging tor rent is running through the town and iAuburn will suffer extensive damages un less the waters recede. 1 The 50 employes of the Denny Renton I Clay Works plant at Renton were cut off iy the flood (.his afternoon and had to pmain cooped up in the warehouse until I hey could be rescued by boats. Scores I .f farmers wtte saved by a narrow mar- In tne outlying districts that cannot now be reached because of the prostration of all telegraph wires. The flood Is the most serious known, exceeding in extent j-ne disastrous flood of 1903. that destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property. Steel Bridges Carried Out. The Northern Pacific's loss will be .nnrmnns. Two steel bridges Dotween Hot Springs and Eagle Gorge which cross the Green River and another, crossing Tine sturV River near Dieringer have been swept away. A great deal of trackage In the valleys is under water ana may do wasued away. ia complete tie-up of the Northern Pacific has stalled all trains here since midnight last night. The North Coast TJmited did not succeed In reaohing Seat tle last night. The Great Northern is un able to send out any trains, communi cation by boat to Tacoma enables tne Northern Pacific to send passengers south in that manner. . The floods are caused by a series of rains lastlne two weeks and a Chinook wind that has melted the snow on the mountains. Rain is still falling, and is expected to continue tomorrow. At Kent the southern end of the town from hill to hill and two miles wide was under several feet of water. In the heart of the town the White River has spread out for almost three miles in width, leav ing only a small portion in the eastern end of the place above water. Water Is Rising Steadily. About 3 o'clock this morning the condi- a . V. a KAam. nniur.nL and since that hour the water has risen stead ily at the rate of two Inches an hour. The business section of Auburn is still In tact, but under water. The residence dis trict is entirely flooded, and In many parts of the city has risen so high that people have fled to the hills for safety. Several two-6tory farm houses swept away by the raging torrent have floated down both the firee.n anil White Rivers. Thev were empty and the farmers with their families and stock were safe on high ground. Though the rain is still pouring in tor- r.nte hncrA hnnfirAB 9r. Htfhtine lin the hills in the farming country and about them are huddled scores of families driven from their homes and fighting desperately to save their stock and some of their pos sessions. The damage' to farming land and the destruction of crops that had been stored for the Winter will be enormous. Danger of loss of life will be greater ttnlcrVit vh.n In thA HarVn.M 1r will he practically impossible for rescuers to find the people huddled along the river bank or for the farmers who are still clinging to r.neir nomes 10 Know ox xne water s rapid rue River Poursi Through Renton. Renton is under water, and the Cedar River is boiling through the city, taking with it in Its mad rush all outbuildings and some of the smaller barns. Moet of the bridges near North Bend have gone out. and the town is isolated. The water went down there slightly this morning, but at noon was again rising and had passed tb formsr. high mark. The bridge near North Bend over the South fork of the county road to Sno qualmle was washed out yesterday. The bridge across the middle fork about a half mile above Salal went out last night. (Concluded on Page ) MAP OF FLOODED DISTRICT ' The above map illustrate tha peculiar system of rivers between Seattle and Tacoma which has flooded that section of country. The Puyallup River, flow ing from Mt Rainier, enters Commencement Bay at Tacoma The White River, having Its source on the same mountain, flows west for soma distance, then turns north a few miles distant from tha Puyallup and pursues its course into Elliott Bay at Seattle. Both these rivers flow through the same alluvial valley, with no hills or rock barriers to separate their watersheds. Consequently a connecting channel has been formed, called Stuck River. When the Puyallup has a freshet, it sends its surplus water through tha Stuck into the White. When the White Is flooded it turns tha Stuck's current back Into tha Puyallup. When both White and Puyallup are flooded, both back up Into the Stuck and flood Us val ley. This condition has caused frequent conflicts between tha farming com munities, one faction trying to keep tha Stuck channel open, the other trying to dam it. About seven miles south o Seattle, the Black River flows out of Lake Washington into the White, which from that point takes the name Duwamish. When the White Is low, the Black empties into It; when the White is high and Lake Washington is low, the current turns and the Black flows into the lake. This whole system of rivers flows through a broad alluvial valley of some of the richest land in the world, separated from Fuget Sound by a ridge sev eral feet high between the two cities. It is traversed by the Northern Pacific and Seattle & Tacoma Tnterurban (electric) railroads and the Harrlman and St. Paul lines will also pass through it. It Is richly cultivated and pasture land and is given to growing hops, fruit, garden truck, potatoes and dairying. It Is lined with thriving towns, chief among which are Puyallup, Auburn, Kent, Meeker, Orllla and Georgetown. VOTERS . REBUKE .NEW YORK BOSSES Turn Down Their Men and Elect Hughes. REPUBUCANSMUSTBUILDANEW Democratic Votes Elect Re publican Governor. CDELL'S MEN REJECTED Candidates Who Wear Machine Col lar or Owe Allegiance to Trusts Defeated Trump Parsons Increases Majority. NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (Special.) "If the Republicans hope to carry New York In Presidential year. It will be up to them to walk a chalk line for the next two years." This statement was made today by a member of the Republican state commit tee, who is close to Chairman Herbert Parsons. As analysis of the vote cast at the re cent election demonstrates very clearly that the G. O. P. did not win a victory. In fact it was practically a defeat. Charles Qvans Hughes was elected Gov ernor, not because ex-Governor Odell, Is by no means the only man who thinks so, he was a Republican, but in spite of it the fact that stands out is that, had some Democrat other than Hearst been running, Hughes, despite his high char acter and undoubted sincerity, would probably have gone down to defeat. Built TTp Xew Organization.' Jacob Brenner, chairman of the Kings county committee, is one Republican leader who is perfectly willing to admit that conditions must be changed. "There is no use In blinking the facts," says Mr. Brenner in an authorized In terview. "Mr. Hughes owes his victory to Democratic votes. The Republican party everywhere in the state, but notably here in Brooklyn, did not stand by the candidate. "We will have to begin all over again and build up a county organization which can be depended upon. There is some thing wrong with our present organiza tion. I don't know whether we lack something, or have too much of some- IN WESTERN WASHINGTON thing else. Whatever the trouble Is, we've simply got to remedy It. A Re publican organization that has to be saved by the votes of Democrats is not an unqualified success." An analysis of the Brooklyn vote shows that approximately 15,000 men voted for , Charles and the rest of the state ticket who did not vote for Hearst, and pre sumably did vote for Hughes. In like manner there were 12,500 votes In Manhattan and The Bronx who scratched Hearst in favor of Hughes. Obviously if these 27,500 votes were trans ferred to the other column It would make a change of 55,000, or nearly enough to wlye out the plurality for the head of the Republican ticket. It is fair to as sume that all of these men were Demo crats. All who voted In the Independence j League column obviously voted for the man who founded it. And the fact must not be lost sight of that this 27.500 does not by any means Indicate the extent of the slump, for many Democrats voted the straight Republican ticket, not wishing to ratify any of the nominations of the Independence League or of the Buffalo convention. It Is of course Impossible to give any accurate estimate of this vote, but politicians place it at between 3000 and 5000. Old Guard Hit Hard, The Republican candidates who were defeated, with one exception, are the present holders of the offices. They were not popular with the voters, being under the same cloud as Governor Higgins, but it was practically impossible to prevent their renominatlon. The Old Guard lead ers wanted Higgins for Governor, with Bruce as a second choice. County Chair man Parsons, of New. York County, rep resenting President Roosevelt, forced the nomtriation of Hughes, but he had to consent to the choice of the rest of the old state ticket. Lieutenant-Governor Bruce was the choice of Higgins; Secretary of State O'Brien is a leader himself In the north ern tier; Attorney-General Mayer was satisfactory to the Piatt crowd; Con troller Merton E. Lewis, the only new man on the ticket, was the appointee of George W. Aldredge. the boss of Roches ter; State Treasurer Wallenmeier owed his prominent to William C. Warren, the boss of Buffalo, while State Engineer Van Alstyne was the choice of Lou Payne. With these men in office, the leaders felt sure of having something, and they devoted all their attention to them, giving Mr. Hughes at the best only perfunctory support. In fact, there would have been few "organization" tears shed had Hughes been defeated, so Ions as the rest of the ticket slipped through. Hughes made a single-handed fight and was elected, while his associates ran from 65,000 to 75,000 behind him and were defeated. Samples of Independence. Here are a few other things that the voters did to show how independent they were: Congressman James W. Wadsworth had a majority of 13,034 two years ago. He got in a snarl with President Roosevelt over the meat-inspection bill and aided in a gerrymander which re tired Senator Stevens, head of the gas Investigating committee, from public life. Hughes had a majority of 15.000 in the Congressional District. Wads worth was defeated. Senator Charles Cooper, of Brooklyn (Rep.), voted on many measures In a way to displease his constituents. Cooper was renominated. Hughes car ried his district by 7S00. Cooper lost by 794. Louis F. Goodsell has been known as "Odell's Senator." There was ob jection to his renomination, but it was overruled. Goodsell had 3000 majority two years ago. Hughes carried the district by 3800, and Goodsell lost it by 2400. Odell's Assemblyman, Louis Bedell, of Orange County, was defeated by 2340. Hughes' majority was 2450. Francis H. Gates was elected two years ago from the Madison-Oswego District. There are so few Democrats there that he had no opposition. This year he was turned down by a trick, and the nomination given to Assembly man Thomas D, Lewis, of Oswego County. Gates ran as an Independent with Democratic indorsement. Hughes carried Oswego County by S200 and Maaison County by 4400. but the Republican can didate for Senator was defeated by 1M0. Parsons the Trump Triumphant. The bitterest , fight made against a Re publican candidate for Congress was in the 13th district and was directed against Herbert Parsons, the roan who forced the nomination of Hughes. Two years ago Roosevelt' lost New York County by 30.000. This year Hughes lost it by 65,000. with the other Republi can candidates far in the rear. Here are some figures which show what the people thought of the man Roosevelt calls a trump in a note to Henry Clews, the young man's father-inaw. Vote of Thirteenth District in 1904. Herbert Parsons, Republican ......18,700 Edward Swann, Democrat.. ...16,037 .Parsons' plurality 2,662 , Thirteenth District 1906. Parsons. Republican 16.351 Jackson, Democrat 9,957 Hendrick, Independence League 3.S3T Parsons' plurality .. 6,394 A gain of 4000 majority in a Democratic year is certainly something to be proud of. Mr. Hughes clearly realizes the Bitua tlon, and not one of his friends doubts that he will make good. But the bosses are extremely worried, and fear all sorts of things before his term is over. EPIDEMIC OF CRIME GROWS Pittsburg's Swarms of Police Power- ., less Against Thugs. PITTSBURG. Nov. 14. The reign of law lessness in this vicinity continues and the hundreds of police, city detectives, county detectives and private agencies are apparently unable to stop the depreda Hons, which are almost hourly reported to them. Within the last 24 hours there has been a greater number than any like period since the "epidemic began. LET C M DECIDE ON WAGES Western Railroads' Surprising Move. , WILLING TO ACCEPT RESULT United Demand of Employes in West the Cause. LABOR LEADERS FRIENDLY Crisis on -Wase Question Arouses Managers to Propose Arbitration by National Body End to Railroad Strikes. CHICAGO, Nov. 14. fSpecial.) Fearing that the present agitation for fncreased wagss has reached a point . where it threatens the successful operation of rail roads, the executive officials of all lines west of Chicago have decided to ask the Interstate Commerce Commission to be come a board of arbitration for the settle ment of all disputes between the employes and railways. The subject has been dis cussed for several weeks by the presi dents and vice-presidents in Chicago and promlneft Eastern railroad men have been consulted on the subject. The result is a determination to appeal to the Commis sion in an effort to establish a tribunal which it is declared would be a fair arbi trator between labor and the capital in vested in transportation, with the hop that it would remove the danger of strikes for all time to come. Willing to Accept Decision. The railroad men declare they are per fectly willing to leave it to the Commis. sion to say what wages shall be paid all classes of railway labor. They hold that the labor men cannot refuse to agree to such a board of arbitration, as Commis sioner Clark formerly was a,t the head of the Order of Railway Conductors of the United States, a fact that would be suf ficient guarantee that the interests of la boi would receive careful consideration and fair treatment. The determination on the part of the railroad presidents is thought to be one of the boldest moves yet made in the transportation game and that will appeal to labor and capital alike. Whether the Commission would care to become a self- r r ............. ..... ... n :; TO-' 4 :v- rlv i T ( - v - t , - h n JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, INDICTED FOR VIOLATING OHIO AN'TI-TBCST LAW. constituted board of arbitration and thus take upon itself added duties and added responsibilities remains an open ques tion. The deliberations of the railway men have not reached the point of organ izing a committee to make such a request of the Commission, but the plan has re ceived the universal approval of all of the big operating men as well as of the railway presidents. That the plan will be carried out was stated positively today by several railway oflicials. Time for Strikes Past. In discussing the matter the railroad men declare the time of great strikes on the railways is or should be passed. This is an age of arbitration, they say, and, as labor unions are making it more and more difficult for the railroads to treat with their men singly there is nothing left but arbitration. The willingness of the railroads to pick out the Commission as a board of concili ation Is said to Indicate the eeneral be- lief that body has a desire not to Injure the railroads by radical measures but to do what Is best both for the people and for the roads. United Demand of Employes. The question which led to the arbitration scheme is the concerted demand which has been made by the engineers of 27 railroads for an increase in wages ranging from 13 to 15 per cent. This demand has been coupled with the condition that the roads involved cannot deal with their men separately, but that an answer must be made In a wholesale fashion, which Is to say. If the men on one road are suc cessful, all must be and. If one road de nies, all must take the same stand. Although no specified conference has been held between the railroad people and the heads of the labor organizations regarding the subject, it is stated that the labor leaders are not unfriendly to the plan. ' WILL RAISE CLERKS' SALARIES Tnlon . Pacific to Announce Fact When Slohler Returns East. OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 14. (Special.) A general increase in the salaries of clerks on the Harrlman system of railroads is announced to be made soon. General Man ager Mohler is on an extended Western trip and is not expected to return to Omaha until next week.' During his ab sence no official announcement will be given out. but it Is nevertheless known that the decision authorizing the advance has been made. It is only a question of a short time until the schedule becomes ef fective onthe Union Pacific as well as the other lines of the system. The advance will be 10 per cent. It la not at this time to apply to the train men, whose pay is governed, in many instances, by agreements with the unions to which they belong. Clerks in head quarters and stations along the line and employes generally whose salaries are under $100 a month are to benefit, but it is not known definitely whether it is de cided to include heads of departments and other high-salaried men. Mr. - Mohler left Portland on his way East on Tuesday night. ERIE MEN VOTE . TO - STRIKE Firemen at Cleveland Unanimous in Their Demand. CLEVELAND. Nov. 14. At a meeting of the firemen -of ine arte Railroad uere tonight it was unanimously voted to strike to enforce their demands for in creased pay and shorter hours. There were 240 men at the meeting. The vote in the meeting here tonight represents , the Mahoning division of the Erie and at the headquarters of the Bro therhood here it was stated that ad vices had been received here that the action taken here would be duplicated at other points on the oad. AGREE ON CURRENCY BILL Joint Cominitttee Will Keep Secret Till Draft Is Complete. WASHINGTON. Nov. 14. Currency ex pansion legislation in some form will be recommended for the action of Congress at its coming session as the result of the sessions of the currency committees of the American Banking Association and the New York Chamber of Commerce, which have been held here for the past three days. What that legislation will be none of the members is willing to say at this time, as all of them have been pledged to absolute secrecy until the final draft of the plan proposed is passed on by them, which is expected to be at the final session tomorrow. At today's meeting the final work of putting in shape the principles agreed on and outlining the details for their prac tical application was referred to a spe cial committee. It is understood tonight, although no official announcement was made, that the committees agreed today sub stantially on the following proposi tions: The establishment- f a 5 per cent guarantee fund for the redemption of the notes of failed banks and for other purposes; the amount of general credit notes to be kept on reserve to be the same percentage as that of deposits; and a limitation of all issues of cur rency by anv bank to that of its capital stock. ROCKEFELLER IS INDICTED OHIO Accused of Violating Anti-Trust Law THREE OTHERS UNDER FIRE Standard Officials tharged With Same Crime. ARE SOUGHT AT CLEVELAND Deputy Cannot Find Vilas, Robert son : and Mcintosh, but Will Catch Them and Take Them to F1ndlay FINDLAT, O., Nov. 14. The grand Jury today found indictments against John D. Rockefeller and three other persons in connection jjith the Stand ard Oil Inquiry, which was reopened upon the reconvening of that body in adjourned session yesterday. What the indictments allege or who are thev four other defendants In addition to Mr. Rockefeller, was not given out by Prosecutor David, . who, however, ad mitted the indictments had been, re turned. The bench warrants Issued on the indictments were placed in th4 hands of Sheriff Grover, who this after noon took them and went to Cleveland, where, It is supposed, they are to be served. , It is understood the indictments charge the defendants with having continued to contract for the oil pro duction and to fix prices on and after July 7, 1906, in violation of the Valen tine anti-trust act. a state law under which the recent prosecution of the Standard Oil Company in this county was conducted. In which a fine of 5000 was Imposed by the Probate Court. Mr. David stated that no attempt would be made to compel Mr. Rock efeller to come to Ohio at this time, because his attorneys had already en tered appearance for himself tn the Probate Court on a previous action against the Standard OU . Company. According to C. C Myers, member of the Jury that convicted the Standard Oil Company of violating the anti trust law, a bribe of $500 was twice offered to him during the trial, once on the street and once in the basement of the Courthouse, on condition that he hang the Jury and force a disagree ment. Myers says he does not know the man who tendered him the money, though it was the same man in both Instances. The bribe offered In the second in stance may have been greater than $500, as the agent did not state the amount, merely displaying a huge roll of bills. Mr. David gave as a reason for not making' the indictments public the fact (Concluded on Pag-e 4. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER Foreign. Count Bo til loses divorce cap and court gives him no alimony. Pag 5. Bomb thrown in Rome cauees panic. Fag 5. SotfonaJ. PrsMnt Roosevelt arrives at Colon and great entertainment is prepared for him. Page 3. Chief of engineers recommend river and harbor appropriations for Oregon and Washington. Page 4 Hitchcock will ignore Fulton in naming Nolan's successor. Page 4 Defeat of Republican leaders leaves va-cant five important positions la House. Page 2. Fight on Judge Wickers ham to be renewed. Page 3. Politics. Display of Independence by Xew York voters means reorganization of Republican party. Page 1. Domestic. Rockefeller and three other Standard OU officials indicted in Ohio. Page 1. Railroad managers will ask Interstate Com merce Commission to arbitrate wage dis pute. Page 1. Labor Federation welcomes Farmers Union. Page 3. Senator and Mrs. Piatt sign separation agreement. Page 3. Pacific Coast. Great floods tn valleys in vicinity of Seattle. Page 1. Puyallup valley is a sea of water. Page 6. Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce starts movement to secure cars from Southern Pacific. Page 14. Hembree is given an indeterminate sen tence for the murder of his daughter in Tillamook County. Page 5- Thomas Reeves and Hugh Laven confess murder of old soldier at Cottage Grove. Page 7. Proctor Anderson found guilty of second de gree murder at Vancouver. Page 5. George Robinson proves poor witness la land fraud trials at Moscow, Idaho, rage 4. Commercial and Marine. Eastern sugar markets are steady. Page VS. Chicago wheat market quiet but strong. Page 15. Xew York money market easier. Page 1 Arriving steamers encounter stormy weather along the coast. Page 11. Stranded bark Galena In good shape. Page 2. Portland and Vicinity. Robert M. La Follette, Senator from Wis consin, arrives in Portland too late for scheduled lecture. Page 14- Portland streetcar service paralysed yes terday by burning out of return feed wires by excessive current. Page 11. Syndicate buys tract' of 1V0 acres at city limits on Sandy Road and -Rill plat prop erty. Page 10. Floods threaten to cut off rail communica tion with East. Page 6. Water Board plans to relieve burden of con sumers. Page 10. Threatened with grand Jury Investigation, police close Parts House. Page 14. Interest how centered in Oregon-Washington football game to be played next Sat urday. Page 7. Longshoreman's widow gets verdict for SoOCO damages. Page 11. v. but there, may be some loss of Ilia I i