ill
VOL. , XXVI. NO. 14,448.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1907.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
1 .
MAIN
MAY AVERT
BIG STRIKE
Knapp and INei II Will
Try To Ad just Rail
road Dispute.
LABOR LEADERS STAND FIRM
Will Reject Arbitration and In
sist on Greater Concessions
From the Managers.
NO ATTEMPT TO RUN TRAINS
Strike Means Cessation ; of
Traffic in West.
mo NEW MEN AVAILABLE
Railroad Managers Rely on Erd
mann Law to Keep Wheels Mov
ing Rejection of Mediation
Will Force' ' Arbitration. "
CHICAGO. March ' 28. (Special. Gov
srnment Intervention will be tried in an
effort to avert the great railroad strike,
which threatens to paralyxe the business
of the West. In response to the appeal
of the railroad managers, Chairman
Knapp, of the Interstate Commeroe Com- .
mission and Commissioner of Labor Nelll
will arrive In Chicago Saturday morning
and offer jnedjatlon In the controversy.
Falling to adjust the matter In a concili
atory manner, 'they' will endeavor to bring
about arbitration under the provisions of
the Erdmann law.
The labor chiefs will await the arrival
of the Government officials before order
ing a strike. If the good offices of Mr.
Knapp and Mr. Nelll result In bringing
greater concessions to the employes than
have yet been offered, the strike may be
averted. The employes, however, say they
will not accept arbitration and today
again declared their position that nothing
short of greater concessions from the
railroads will prevent them from walk
ing out.
Roosevelt Watches Closely.
President Roosevelt has been following
closely the developments In the situation
here and Messrs. Knapp and Nelll will
undertake the delicate work Imposed on
them by law with full consciousness that
the President is extremely solicitous that
all differences be settled by arbitration.
It Is argued by the men that, if they do
not desire the offices of the Interstate
Commission and the Department of Com
merce and LAbor In arranging their dis
putes, they cannot be made to agree to it.
The help of he United States Labor De
partment would follow the application of
the Erdmann act, which Is the basis of
Federal aid now sought by the man
agers. Managers Scout Strike Talk.
Railway officials scout the Idea of a
general strike. While all agree that the
situation is serious and may result In
a contest between capital and labor that
would form one of the most stupendous
industrial battles in the history of the
United States, It is the unanimous opinion
of those who have followed the long-drawn-out
negotiations that no radical
steps should be taken by either side
in the con tro verso ry. It has been declared
that the railroad officials will positively
refuse to ask for further conferences
with their men and that the men have
been informed of this decision.
No Attempt to Run Trains.
The general managers said that no at
tempt would be made to operate trains
if the employes struck. Transportation
would be completely tied up.
"I don't see how the railroads could
operate In the event of a strike," said
C. A. Goodnow, general manager of the
Chicago & Alton. "We could not con
tinue running without experienced men.
The public would suffer greatly, as it
would seriously cripple all business."
"The railroads have gone as far as
they can with the offer of a 10-per cent
increase." said W. J. Underwood, general
. manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul Railroad. "The men certainly could
not expect the sympathy of the public. If
they should strike under such conditions.
I do not think they will go as far as
that."
WILL H.WE NO ARBITRATION
Trainmen and Firemen Stand Firm.
Managers Trust Government.
CHICAGO, March 28. The contro
versy over a wage scale between the
general managers of the Western rail
roads and their employes In the train
service cannot be arbitrated. The only
way in which a strike can be averted
Is for the officials of the roads to make
terms with the men. This is the ulti
matum issued by the representatives
of the two unions involved In the diffi
culty, after a meeting tonight to con
sider the action of the railroads in
asking the Federal Government to try
to bring about a settlement by media
tion along the lines provided by the
Erdmann act. The arbitration move
ment of the managers was considered
at some length by the union representa
tives, but. the proposition was finally
rejected and a resolution passed re
fusing to arbitrate the wage scale
question.
The general managers tonight for
the first time admitted that the situ
ation was grave.. The crisis was inten
sified by the fact that no compromise
had been effected with the representa
tives of the 16,000 locomotive firemen,
who are here negotiating; for higher
wages and an eight-hour day. An
other conference was held today be
tween the General Managers Associa
tion and a committee representing; the
firemen, but nothing In the way of a
settlement was accomplished.
Secretary Slason Thompson, of the
General Managers' Association, said to
night: "We are waiting to. see what the
Martin A. Knapp, Chairman of In
terstate Commerce Commission,
Whom Railroads Wish to Arbitrate
- Dispute With Trainmen.
Government will do. We do not ex
pect to 'hear directly in answer to our
request that the whole difficulty should
be arbitrated along the lines suggested
by the Erdmann act, but we believe
that .when . the . labor leaders involved
receive word from Washington that the
Government has been asked to take a
hand in .the matter they will look at
the matter in a different light, and will
be willing; to submit the question to
arbitration. We are not looking for
trouble, but we have made all the con
cessions we can afford under the pres
ent conditions and the sooner the men
become reconciled to this the better it
will be for every one concerned."
When informed tonight that Chair
man Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and Charles P. Nelll, Com
missioner of Labor, were coming to
Chicago to endeavor to effect ' a set
tlement of the trouble, P. H. Morrlssey,
grand master of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, said:
"The committee representing the men
will hear and consider suggestions
from governmental sources, still action
will not bo delayed unreasonably await
ing the necessary intervention. We
are not unmindful of the public's right
In the matter and we are not going to
do anything; hastily. One thing; is cer
tain, however, and that is the men will
not accept the last proposition of the
general managers. If the Government
officials can prevail upon the railway
officials to grant our demands, every
thing will be amicably, adjusted, , but
unless this is done I don't see what can
prevent a strike." -
KNAPP AND NEILIi COME WEST
Government Officials Will Try to
Keeps Wheels Moving.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Chairman
M. A. Knapp of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and Charles P. Nelll; Com
mlssloner of Labor, will leave here to
morrow noon for Chicago, where they will
hold a conference with representatives of
the conductors and trainmen and officials
of the Western railroads entering Chi
cago in regard to the dispute over the
question of wages which threatens to i
suit in a disastrous strike unless a satis
factory adjustment Is effected.
Mr. Knapp said tonight that the visit
of himself and Mr. Nelll will be in the
direction of arbitration and conciliation.
The request for these efforts at mediation
and conciliation came from the railroads.
"It therefore becomes our duty under
the law," said Mr. Knapp, "to put our
selves in communication with the parties
and endeavor to bring about a settlement.
If we fall in that eJfort, then it Is our
duty to endeavor to Induce the parties
to enter into an arbitration."
The determination of Messrs. Knapp
and Nelll to go to Chicago was reached
after a lengthy conference. In which
Commissioner Clark, who at one time
was an official of the Order of Railway
Conductors, participated, and followed the
receipt of a commission from Ira G.
Rawn, chairman of the railroad managers'
committee. The letter set forth that
the dispute between the various Western
roads and the conductors and trainmen
employed by them concerning wages.
hours of labor and conditions of employ
ment, seriously threatens to interrupt the
business of said companies. The letter
adds that In the present controversy the
initiative was taken by the conductors
and trainmen, who have acted Jointly,
and that in response to their request the
carriers also have acted Jointly, being
represented by a committeeof managers
of railways.
The Commission was requested, in ac
cordance with the provisions of the Erd
mann act, "to put yourselves in com
munication with the parties to said con
trover sy in order that there may be an
CCoscluded on Page 5.) .
T
OP ALL EVIDENCE
RittenhouseTellsAbout
Hermann.
ANXIOUS ABOUT LETTERBOOKS
Tried to Persuade Him Letters
Were Personal.
FEAR THEY STILL EXISTED
Prosecution Closes With .Strongest
Evidence of .All From Former
Stenographer Hermann's
Characteristic Greeting.
OREGON! AN NEWS BUREAU Wash
ington, March 28. During the seven
weeks BInger Hermann has been on
trial no more damaging testimony . has
been offered against him than was given
today, just before the prosecution closed
Its case, by Irvin Rlttenhouse, former
stenographer In the General Land Office
and subsequently assistant to Prosecutor
Heney. Mr. Rlttenhouse' s testimony
bore directly on the Indictment, it tended
to show the character of the letters
copied In Hermann's so-called private
letterbooks and, what was equally dam
aging, showed Hermann's efforts to per
suade hlB stenographer and messenger to
admit that these letters were all "per
sonal."
Soft Soap Does Not Take.
Rittenhouse was far and away the star
witness of the entire case, so far as the
prosecution is concerned. Through his
association with Mr. Heney, he knew
what was coming and prepared for It.
He was in Portland' assisting Mr. Heney
when Hermann and Senator Mitchell
went home to appear before the grand
Jury, and It was there that Hermann
encountered Mr. Rlttenhouse and Chris
Mulier, the messenger who destroyed the
letterbooks, and undertook to "softsoap"
them Into admitting that his private let
terbooks contained only personal corre
spondence. Mr. Rittenhouse took the
precaution to make notes of all that
transpired at that Interview and in his
uninterrupted recital, today employed
language and . expressions, so characteris
tic of Hermann that the. latter' s friends
were visibly Impressed by Its accuracy,
and the court and JSiry showed deeper In
terest than at any previous time during
the trial.
Were Slated for Promotion.
In his careful way Mr. Rittenhouse told
how Hermann approached, at first pre
tending not to recognize him, then, when
he heard his name, how Hermann re
called most vividly that only a short time
before he retired from the Land Office
he had gone over the list of employes
and singled out both Mr. Rlttenhouse and
Mr. Mulier and had insisted upon their
UNCLE SAM IS HAVING
MOS
DAMAGING
SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF Y.
M. C, A.-Y. W. C. A. BUILD
- ING FUND CAMPAIGN TO
BE DECIDED TODAY.
Today will decide the success
or failure of the Y. M. C, A.
Y. W. C. A. building fund cam
paign. Yesterday was the ban
ner day of "Everybody Gives"
week, $16,692 being pledged.
This brings the total up to nine-'
tenths of the $350,000 ' required, '
leaving $34,375 yet to be raised.
Mayor Lane will address the
workers at the noon luncheon
today, and is expected to add to
the already apparent enthusi
asm. ' Working ' girls of Port
land yesterday pledged from
their earnings over. $500 for the
fund. . There was one subscrip
tion of $1000. An account of
yesterday's canvass will be
found on page IV
promotion. He told how - Hermann
gradually veered around to the .subject
of his private letterbooks and how In his
persuasive way he, undertook to convince
Mr. Rittenhouse against', his personal
knowledge and Judgment that th lottos
which he (Hermann) had dictated to Mr.
itmennouse nad been entirely personal. .
Mr. Rlttenhouse declined to waive his
firm opinion that letters dictated to him
were strictly official. Mr. Mulier appar
ently was more susceptible to Hermann's
persuasion, for, as Hermann left, he in
vited Mr. Mulier to visit him at Roseburg,
but extended no such invitation to Mr.
Rlttenhouse.
Anxious About Letter-Books.
Mr. Rittenhouse also testified vividly of
Hermann's Intense anxiety when told by
Mr. Mulier that the destroyed books had
been dumped in with other waste paper
of the office, . and had probably been al
lowed to lie around several weeks before
being removed for destruction.
All In all, this recital did more to .es
tablish the official character of at east
part of the letters copied in the "per
sonal" books than all other - testimony
yet produced and the exploitation of Her
mann's uneasiness for fear the books
themselves had been recovered, even
prior to his indictment, made a visible
Impression on the hearers.. Equally im
pressive was the testimony showing Her
mann's efforts to convince 'his regular
stenographers of what he 'termed . 'the
"personal" character of ail the letters he
dictated to them. "
. - Defense Begins Monday.
On Monday the defense will begin the
examination of Its witnesses and In all
probability Hermann will take the standi.
There will be comparatively- few wit-'
nesses to combat the overwhelming mass
of testimany produced by the Govern
ment and It Is the opinion of those who
have followed the case closely that It will
take a preponderance of evidence to off
set the particularly damaging testimony
offered by the prosecution in the last
three weeks. A month ago there was
grave .doubt as to the outcome of .the.
trial; today the opinion is almost univer
sal that the verdict will be against the
defendant. However, his side Is yet to
be heard. His leading counsel is the best
at the Washington bar and there may be
surprises in store. But unless those sur-
(Concluded on Page 4.)
TROUBLES OF HIS OWN, BUT
EVER! CITY MAY
HAVE UPHEAVAL
Graft Already Traced
Into Oakland.
RIVAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES
Halsey and Detwiler Feasfed
Aldermen Freely.
WHERE RUEF PUT BOODLE
Had Almost $1,000,000 Distributed
Among Twenty Banks When Fire
Came Sloney Carried in Auto
mobiles From Los Angeles.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 28. (Special.)
Upheavals In municipal politics from
San TMego to the northern borders of the
state have followed the exposure of brib
ery In San Francisco in connection with
the telephone franchises! Investigations
are to be begun wherever the war has
been waged between the two companies,
the Home and the Pacific States.
The most important development of the
day was the announcement of District
Attorney E. J. Brown, of Alameda
County, that evidence had been fur
nished him by Francis J. Heney and De
tective Burns which made it his duty to
begin a vigorous Investigation of condi
tions In the city across the bay. It de
velops that testimony given before the
grand jury ' here indicated very strongly
that money had been paid to some of the
Aldermen of Oakland. Brown will begin
an Inquiry at the end of the week.
French Dinners and Excursions.
Theodore V. Halsey, of the Pacific
States Company, under indictment for
bribing Supervisors, and Abram K. Det
wiler, of the Home Company, also under
indictment, alsp .operated In Oakland.
They not only gave French dinners to the
Council, but took them on a special ex
cursion to Los Angeles for them to study
conditions In that city. Mr Brown- an
nounced tontght that the evidence in his
possession was such that it was impera
tive that a full Inquiry be had without
delay. -
The grand Jury here will complete the
telephone cases on Saturday and will then
pass, to the. consideration, of the fight
trust and trolley boodle cases.
' Ruef's Many Bank Accounts.
Bankers will be called before the grand
Jury on Saturday and will tell how Ruef
split up his boodle fortune and deposit
ed pertlons of It In as many as 20 banks.
His - object was to avoid - the suspicion
which extraordinary deposits in any one
Institution would have caused. In the
various banks of the city Ruef had
almost $1,000,000 on deposit at the time of
the fire. Since then he has Invested
heavily in real estate.
William Murdock, Jr., of the Western
HE'S EQUAL TO THEM
National ' Bank, and Assistant Cashier
Pabst, of the United States National
Bank, will testify as to the business Ruef
did with them. . Ruef kept his largest
accounts In the Institutions and Is heav
ily Interested in the United States Na
tional. Ruef at one time had a large
balance In the First National Bank, of
which Rudolph Spreckels is president.
Since the opening of the campaign which
Spreckels is financing, it Is - understood
that Ruef has closed bis account.
ALIi ABOUT TELEPHONE GRAFT
Directors of Rival Companies Tes
tify Detwller's Location Known.
SAN FRANCISCO. March 28. No indict
ments were, returned today for graft or
bribery by the grand Jury and only six
witnesses were examined: A. B. Cass,
president of the Home Telephone Com
pany of Los Angeles, who was subjected
to further inquiries as to the accounts of
that corporation and the fund of $300,
000 said to have been sent to San Fran
cisco by certain of Its officers for use in
bringing the Supervisors to grant the
Home Company the competitive telephone
franchise In this city, which was finally
Florence Roberts, the Actress, Who
Had Narrow Ecpe From Death
In Cotton Train Wreck.
awarded, after, as alleg-ed by the prosecu
tion, approximately (75,000 In bribes had
been paid to the Supervisors by the rival
company to Insure their voting against
the award; J. N. Martin of the Adams
Phillips Company of Los Angeles, who
with J. S. Torrance brought to San
Francisco in an automobile the JIOO.OOO
which was also paid by the Home Tele
phone Company for Its franchise, J25.0OO
to the city and J75.000 to the relief fund;
George Beanston of the bookkeeping de
partment of 'the Pacific States Telephone
Company, who was further questioned as
to his familiarity with the accounts of
that corporation Insofar as they were af
fected by the bribes alleged to have been
paid; John A. Mallon, statistician of the
Pacific States Telephone Company; J.
S. Torrance of Los Angeles, one of those
who handled the bonds and securities of
the Home Company of that city, and
Percy C. Morgan of the California Wine
producers Association, who was a member
of the executive board of - the Pacific
(Concluded on Page 5. )
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 49
decrees; minimum, 41.
TODAY'S Showers and warmer; southwest
erly winds. ,
Graft In California.
Evidence points to telephone bribery In Oak
land. Page 1.
Grand Jury learn where Ruef put money.
Page 1.'
How bribe . money was brought from Los
Angeles. Page 1.
Hiding; place of Schmltx money found.
Pajje 1,
Foreign. .
Awful slaughter In suppressing Roumanian
revolt. Page 5.
Mediation In .Central American war post
poned. Page 2.
Murder of Liberal editor causes fierce de
bate In Russian -Douma. Page 4.
National.
Congressman Scott predicts completion of
canal In seven years. Page 2. '
Lieutenant Lawrenson believes negro sol
diers Innocent. Page 8.
Domestic
Knapp and Nelll start for Chicago to medi
ate railroad dispute, but trainmen will
reject arbitration. . Page L
Train wreck In California kills about 30 per
sons. Page 1.
Thaw stands examination by lunacy commis
sion. Page 4.
Rlttenhouse gives strong evidence against
Hermann and prosecution cloaca Page 1.
Carnegie makes strong speech against stock
gamblers. Page 5.
Haskln on wonders of photography. Page 3.
Sports.
Prank defeated for wrestling championship.
Page 12.
Pacific Coast.
Baker City will ask for terminal rates.
Page 6.
Oregon wins two debates, defeating Idaho
and Washington. Page 0.
Argument In Dunbar case at Salem la warm
ly contested by opposing counsel. Page 4.
Commercial and Marine.
kates fixed for Eastern Oregon wool sales.
Page 17. - '
Good crop news weakens Chicago wheat
market. Page 17.
Dullness again prevails In stock market.
Page 17.
Relnspectlon of all steam vessels In the
United States has been ordered. Page 16,
Portland and Vicinity.
Congressman-elect Haw ley returns from
Washington, X. C. Page 16.
Thcmas Malone, ex-President of City Coun
cil, shot by bartender and slightly wound,
ed. Page 1L
Court grants Mrs, Phillips divorce; says
stepdaughter was in ,consplracy. Page 11,
Oregon stockholders of Oregon Securities
demand new receiver; charge collusion.
Page 12.
Xouls Zimmerman enters Mayoralty race;
gossip of politics. Page lO,
Political pot boiling at St. Johns. Page 10.
Yesterday banner day of "Everybody Gives"
week In Y. M.-Y. W. C. A. building fund
canvass. Page 1L
I - .
? f sryX
': " ' . ' V'j
sf ill "?SLi ! '-. it
COACHES
SMASHED
TO PIECES
At Least Twenty Six
Persons Killed In
Trainwreck.
MANY MORE WILL SURELY DIE
Engine Dashes at Full Speed
Through Open Switch in
California.
ITALIANS ARE TORN AND CUT
Some Dismembered and lm
paled on Wreckage.
ACTORS BARELY ESCAPE
Southern Pacific Sunset Express
Dashed to Pieces Through Switch
Crew's Carelessness Florence
Roberts Comes Out Unhurt'.
COLTON. Cal., March 28. One of the
most disastrous, wrecks In the history of
the Southern Pacific Railroad occurred one
and one-half miles east of this town
shortly after 4 o'clock this afternoon,
when westbound train No. 9 from New
Orleans for San Francisco - ran into an
open switch, while going at the rate of
40 miles an hour, and ten of the If coaches
were derailed - with frightful results.
Twenty-six people are known to have
been killed and the final list will total
much higher, than this number. The in
jured number, about. 100, many of whom
are seriously Injured and will die.
The wrecked coaches were hurled in
every direction. Four of them were
Ttie article by Frederic J. Haakln,
uaually to be found In this column.
Is. published on Page 8 of this edition.
smashed into splinters. . Most of the dea
were Aiuiiuua liuiii c w iuia .u -
occupied the smoker and day coach.
mangled.' Eighteen of them were taken
to an undertaking establishment at Col
ton by 8 o'clock and eight additional
bodies could be seen underneath one of
the overturned and' demolished cars. This
car could not be raised until a derrick
was brought from Los Angeles, 60 miles
away. The injured were carried to this
city in vehicles of all sorts and the Col-
ton Hospital was quickly filled to its
capacity. Many were then taken to the
Presbyterian Church and to private resi
dences in the vicinity.
Only Two Americans Killed. .
But two Americans are known to have
been killed, although several of those
among the injured will undoubtedly die
within the next few hours.
George L. Sharpe, of Munice, In'd.,- was
Instantly killed. The baggageman, whose
name had not been ascertained, was also
killed. Clarence E. Wormington. the
engineer, and Victor Grebb, the fireman,
both Jumped, but failed to get clear -and
were caught in the wreckage. They were
both terribly burned and scalded. John
Golden, the train conductor, was In the
Pullman section of the train and escaped
injury.
Out of about 80 Pullman passengers, but
two sustained serious injury. The three
Pullman coaches and the diner, which
were on the rear of the train, did not
leave the track. The occupants of these
cars were pracucauy uniitincu.
The Florence Roberts theatrical com
pany occupied one coach, which was
hurled from the track and both ends of
It crushed in by the Impact against the
others. But two members of Miss Rob
erts' company out of a total of 22 people
were Injured. Miss Roberts herself
escaped entirely unscathed. The escape
from death of those on the car was re
markable, considering the manner in
which the coach was splintered and torn
to pieces. The men and women were
hurled from one end of the car to the
other.
There were three tracks where the acci
dent occurred, which is In the open coun
try. '
The people of Colton were first to be
notified of the catastrophe. Hundreds of
people hurried to the scene of the wreck.
Physicians and nurses were taken from
San Bernardino and Colton and minis
tered to the Injured.
Switch Was Jjett Open.
The derailment of the train was caused
by the crew of a switch engine leaving a
switch open at this point. It is said that
Concluded on Face T 1