Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, April 04, 1907, Image 1

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VOL. XLVI.-0. 14,453.
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1907.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SEES CONSPIRACY
TOT
Roosevelt Tells Animus
of Harriman.
AIM TO DEFEAT HIS POLICIES
He Will Openly Fight in Con
vention of 1908.
CONFIDENCE IS IN PEOPLE
ame Forces Which Failed to Nom
inate Hanna Will Defeat Plot of
Combined Corporations, Says
Roosevelt to Newspapers.
WASHINGTON. April 13. (Special.)
President Roosevelt believes there Is a
; conspiracy on foot to defeat the politics
, he has advocated and to control the Re
, publican National convention next year,
I and thRt the men who are behind the
movement are men who were identified
with an organized effort In 1903 to defeat
the President for nomination in 1904.
Edward H. Harrlmin Is cited as one of
the ringleaders. Others believed by the
President to be In the game are repre
sentatives of the Rockefeller interests,
men closely Identified with those trusts
which have been pursued by the present
administration and William R. Hearst.
A representative of Hearst's newspa
pers was denied an interview with the
President today.
The nrBt moves of these conspirators,
according to White House information,
are being made now in Ohio, New York,
Pennsylvania and California. The Presi
dent talked freely regarding theso mat
ters with newspaper men today.
Harrlrnan Plucked Lemon.
Mr. Harrlman's real activity in the 1904
campaign he attributes to an ambition
to become United States Senator from
New York. Mr. Harriman, it wemi, ac
cording to Mr. Roosevelt, picked a lemon
In the garden of politics and he has not
succeeded in getting the acid taste and
pucker out of his mouth yet.
The President does not deny that cor
porations contributed to his campaign
fund In 1304. He has never denied that.
He says, however, he looks upon the
legislation he has secured from Congress
and upon the trusts he has prosecuted,
or Is having prosecuted as evidence that
he permitted no contribution to the cam
paign fund to persuade him to action or
to non-action in relation to the corpor
ations or to influence him in bestowal of
favors.
At the President's Insistence certain
contributions were refused by the Na
tional Committee in 1901. One was a
proffer of JTO.OOO from the Independent
Tobacco Company Interests and another
waa a tender of $30,000 by James Hazen
Hyde, who afterward indicated that he
expected appointment as Minister to
Belgium as his reward.
Plot That Failed in 1904.
Over three years ago today, the Presi
dent explained, ho learned that a con
ference of financial magnates Mr. Har
riman among them was held for the pur
pose of organizing a fight In the Na
tional convention against him. Senator
Hanna was the candidate of this op
position and Mr. Harriman promised that
pro-Hanna and anti-Roosevelt delegations
could be delivered from a number of
states, including New York, Iowa, Ne
braska, Kansas, Colorado, California,
Idaho and several Southern stales. The
President told today how he thwarted
this movement and frankly named the
men who had gone to the front for him.
light Is on Roosevelt Policy.
That was a fight against Roosevelt.
Today he believes it Is a fight against
the Roosevelt policies, the prime purpose
being to control the National convention
of next year and name a Presidential
candidate who will be the antithesis of
all that Mr. Roosevelt stands for. The
President pointed out today that the
light three years ago fiuied out and
failed signally. He is serenely confident
that the present tight will come to a
similar end.
Once the people of the country know
the truth of what is being done, it is
the President's belief that all the financial
and corporate powers combined cannot
nominate and elect a President who will
do what they want done in the White
House.
Will Be in Fight of 1908.
The attitude the President is taking
in political matters Is accepted here as
eldencc that he will be in the fight in
tlie National convention next year, openly
and aggressively. He takes the position
that principles and policies of sucli im
portance are involved that he feels it is
bis duty to ignore the traditional "hands
off'' rule that has kept some Presidents
from meeting any effort to influence the
nomination of their successors.
ASKED AID FOR STATE TICKET
Roosevelt's Version of Interview,
corporation Money Refused.
WASHINGTON. April S. President
Roosevelt discussed with a number of
his callers today various features of the
controversy with E. H. Harriman growing
out of the publication of the letters be
tween them. He desired not to be quoted.
AIMS
however. To his friends the President
made it plain that his version of Mr. Har
rlman's visit preceding the election of 1904
was that Mr. Harriman wanted assistance
from the National Republican Committee
to help Chairman Odell In the New York
state campaign, toward whose expenses
he (Harriman) had raised 1100,000. The
President promised to communicate with
Messrs Cortelyou and Bliss to see what
could be done. He did in this case, he
declared, just what he had done in other
instances where lie had been appealed to
for help in state campaigns.
Answer to Parker's Attack.
To some of his visitors the President
referred to the statement made public last
night by Judge Alton B. Parker in
Albany. N. Y., that it has never been
denied that $150,000 was turned over by
the Equitable, Mutual and New. York Life
insurance companies to Mr. Cortelyou's
committee and that Congress has refused
to make an Investigation into the cor
porate contributions of 1904, or to pass
a law prohibiting such contributions in
the future. On this subject the President
referred to a statement which he made
on November 4, 1904, in which he said
In part:
"That contributions have been made to
' J
Blnger Hermann, Who Testified la
His Own Defense.
. . .4
the Republican committee, as contribu
tions have been made to the Democratic
committee ie not the question at issue.
Mr. Packer's assertion is in effect that
such contributions have been made for
improper motives, either in consequence
of threats or in consequence of improper
promises direct or Indirect, on the part
of the recipient. But there is not
one particle of truth in the statement."
etc. Neither Mr. Parker nor his support
ers, the President declared, have been
able to traverse or question the state
ments made in that answer.
Corporation Funds Returned.
The President said that to his own
knowledge about a dozen contributions
offered by corporations had been declined
by Chairman Cortelyou. but that others
had been accepted. A contribution by the
American Tobacco Company, -he said, had
been returned. A prominent man had
made a contribution of $3O-,O0O to the
Republican campaign fund. Subsequently
this man had made known his desire for
an appointment In the diplomatic service
in the event that the President was
elected. As soon as his motives were
understood the National Committee re
turned his contribution.
The President asserted to his. callers
that none of the corporations contribut
ing to the campaign fund In 1904 had
come to him for favors either directly or
Indirectly. In this connection the Presi
dent referred to the Legislation enacted
regarding corporations during the last
two years as disproving any Imputa
tions that immunity would be shown
them for their contributions.
HAS ANOTHER ROD IN PICKLE
President Prepared for Assault
From Discharged Official.
WASHINGTON, April 3. (Special.)
President Roosevelt's letter to Represent
ative Sherman, telling all about the rela
tions between the President and Mr. Har
riman. was written more than five months
ago, and was then tucked away in a
pigeon-hole In Mr. Roosevelt's desk to
wait for an opportune time to spring it
on the public. The "psychological mo
ment" arrived when Mr. Harrlman's let
ter to Mr. Webster, declaring that the
President had begged Mr. Harriman to
get funds to save the Republican party
from defeat in 1904. came to light.
In another pigeon-hole of the Presi
dent's desk is a second letter, which will
also be produced at an opportune mo
ment. It has nothing to do with the
Harriman episode, but relates to an alto
gether different incident. It refers to cer
tain doings of a distinguished former of
ficial of Mr. Roosevelt's administration.
This official severed his connection with
the Government service not very long ago
and. while the newspapers did not say so.
he was forced to resign.
This man has a grievance against the
President, for he imagines he was treated
very badly. Word came to the White
House that he was prepared to come out
with a sensational statement attacking
Mr. Roosevelt. The President thereupon
sent to the office of the former official
and secured complete records of certain
transactions that were a factor in the
decision that the official must resign.
HARRIMAN IS SELF-SATISFIED
Thinks He Has Roosevelt in Hole,
But Keeps Silent.
NEW YORK. April 3. (Special.)
Edward H. Harriman went about his
work of making more millions today
very well satisfied with himself.
Friends of Mr. Harriman cheered him
up by assuring him that he had put
his former friend. Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States, in a
hole. The publication today that in
(Concluded on Page a.)
PLOT TO DEFEAT
$1000 LICENSE
Signatures to Petition
Are Missing.
PAUL RADER CHARGES THEFT
Auditor Devlin Held Respon
sible for Loss.
CALLS IT MALICIOUS LIE
Declares Referendum Papers Were
Not Tampered With in His Of
fice .Municipal League Will
Replace the Names.
McKEVNA'8 CHABTiE AND DEV
LIN'S DEFENSE.
Francis I. McKenna. What is th
use of having th Initiative if we
cannot be protected? Those ptl
tlona. taken from the City Audi
tor's office, should have been kept
as secret and guarded with as much
care as ballot-boxes. In my judgment-
the City Auditor's office is
guilty of gross carelessness.
City Auditor Devlin. The state
ment that the petition has been In
terfered with since It has been In
my custody is a malicious and wil
ful He. It Is absurd. The petition
is Intact and has been -safe guarded
while In my care. There has been
no Jobbery In my office and the peti
tion remains the same as it was
the day It was filed.
Members of the Municipal League who
have been circulating the petition to sub
mit Francis L McKenna's J1000 liquor
license and Sunday closing ordinance to
the people at the June election were
thrown into a fever of excitement yester
day when they discovered that the pe
tition on file In the City Auditor's office
had less than 1800 signatures, though
they had supposed there were about 200
names. Charges are openly made by
influential members of the league that
the petition has been tampered with since
It was filed in the Auditor's office. These
charges are flatly denied by Auditor Dev
lin, who brands a story that names have
been removed from the petition "a ma
licious and wilful lie."
To submit an ordinance to a vote of
the people it is necessary that the pe
tition be signed by about 2200 legal voters,
and the members of the league will bend
every effort today" to secure the 600 ad
ditional signatures necessary to Insure
the submission of the $1000 license bill
THE PRESIDENT
next election. These names must be se
cured today by 5 o'clock as this is the
last day that petitions under the refer
endum can be flled. A corps of workers
will start out early this morning to se
cure signatures and all those who are
interested in and who have not signed the
petition are expected to call at the head
quarters of the Anti-Saloon League in the
Commercial block to add their names.
Rader Appeals to Council. '
When the alleged loss of the signa
tures was discovered yesterday afternoon
by Rev.. Paul Rader, who superintended
the circulating of the document, he at
once appealed to the Council to order
the measure placed on the ballot, but
was not successful.
Councilman 'Wills made the startling
announcement on the floor of the Coun
cil that the petition had been tampered
with, but did not say when or where.
He introduced a resolution to authorize
the submission of the ordinance to the
people, but it was promptly voted down,
six to seven. The vote was: Ayes Ben
nett, Boothe, Rushlight, Vaughn, Wal
lace and Wills. Noes Annand. Baker,
Dunning, Gray, Menefee, Preston,
Sharkey.
The petition was filed with City Auditor
yL:...l.iS j
James H . Hyde, Harrlman's Sec
ond Choice for Ambassador to
France.
Devlin about a month ago by Mr. Rader.
At that time It was thought it had about
2700 signatures. Mr. Rader was not sure
of the count and a week later called at
the Auditor's office and checked up the
signatures. He says he counted about
2400 names at that time. Since then. Mr.
Rader says, about 400 additional names
have been sent to the Auditor's office to
be filed with the petition.
. Makes Startling Discovery.
Early yesterday afternoon, before the
Council met, Mr, Rader went to the City
Hall to ascertain whether any names on
the petition had been stricken out as ir
regular. When he examined the petition
he was horrified, he says, to discover that
it contained but 1731 names. He declares
that he is positive that three weeks ago
when he went through the petition it
contained no less than 2400 names. This,
with the 400 additional names filed at dif
ferent times, leaves a difference of about
1100 signatures which Mr. Rader and oth-
(Concluded on Fge 7.)
"WONDER IF I'D BETTER
LANE HITS AT HIS
DEMOCRATIC FOES
Won't Try for Mayor
on Their Platform.
SENDS A LETTER TO THOMAS
Withdraws as Candidate for
His Party Nomination.
INDEPENDENT RUN HINTED
Thomas Replies. Saying He Seeks
"To Restore Amity Between You
and Various Portions of
the Local Democracy;
Maj or Lane has thrown the local Demo
cratic party In consternation by writing
a letter to George H. Thomas, chairman
of the Democratic county central com
mittee, withdrawing his name from fur
ther consideration as a candidate for
Mayor on the platform prescribed by
Chairman Thomas and his associates.
Thomas has sent a reply letter to Lane,
saying that Thane's acceptance of the plat
from would effect needed harmony in the
Democratic party.
Taken at first glance. Mayor Lane's
letter might be construed as withdraw
ing him entirely from the Mayoralty race.
yet the paragraph closes with this clause
"Reserving the right and privilege at any
time to put the matter to a supreme test
before the people should I care to do so.'
Want Offices for Democrats.
Chairman Thomas represents an ele
ment that has sought to pledge Dr. Lane
to conduct the office of Mayor as a
Democrat and not as a nonpartisan
which means that he should appoint Dem
ocrats to the subordinate offices. This
he has refused to do, just as Sheriff
Word refused to do. The Thomas ele
ment contends that Lane if nominated as
a Democrat and elected should run the
Mayor's office as a Democrat.
Thomas' reply letter cites that he and
his associates took the attitude objected
to by Lane "to restore a spirit of amity
between you and various portions of the
local Democracy which gave enthusiastic
support to you two years ago, but are
now, as I am informed opposed to your
renomination.'
Mayor Lane'a letter is addressed to
Chairman Thomas under date of April
I. It reads as follows:
Mayor's Letter to Chairman Thomas
Portland, Or., April 1. Hon. George H.
Thomas, Chairman, Democratic Central
Committee. My Dear Sir: A short time ago
I. was called upon by a committee of" the
SWAT HIM?"
Democratic party, which asked that I be
come a candidate for the nomination to the
office of Mayor of this city. I was assured
by that committee, of which you were a
member, of its and your approval and sup
port if I desired to enter the race for that
office. Not having decided at that time to
run. i asked for and was granted further
time to consider the matter. Following this
and as soon as I could do so, and relying
upon your offer of support. I wrote you a
letter In which I stated that I would be
come a candidate if I were allowed a cer
tain freedom. In the event of my election,
looking to the larger interests of the com
munity as a whole.
Having- received no answer to my letter
I called last Saturday upon you a the offi
cial head and accredited representative and
spokesman of the Democratic party, and
found the situation somewhat changed with
respect to my candidacy. In fact I was
given to understand that you have much
and grave doubt both as to the expediency
and the wisdom of the Democratic party
making me It candidate for Mayor. I am
assured that the principles stated in my let
ter upon which I was willing to make the
race do not meet with your entire and un
qualified approval, and that there is much
and serious dissatisfaction among the
members of the party at large with my can
didacy. Lane Withdraws Name.
I must assume that the invitation which
you extended me on behalf of the party, but
a few days ago, to become its candidate,
was both sincere and well advised: was
Senator haunrey M. Drpew, One of
Harrlman's Candidates for Am
bassador to France.
founded upon a disinterested desire for the
party's welfare and an Intelligent apprecia
tion of Its needs and desires at that time. I
can only conclude therefore that the change
of feeling which I mentioned above, and the
widespread dissatisfaction of which you
spak. it due to the fact that the- party does
not want a candidate who stands squarely
and meaningly upon a platform such as
that X outlined. While ft Is not possible for
me to become a candidate upon any other
terms T have not at any time wished and do
not wish to Intrude or force myself upon
my party to its detriment, as you assure me
I am doing In this instance, and therefore
(Concluded on Page 3.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
degrees; minimum, 41
TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds.
Roosevelt and Harriman.
Roosevelt says financial magnates conspire
to defeat his policies and will flgnt for
their adoption In 1908 convention. Page L
Corporation campaign contributions re
turned when conditions attached. Page 1.
Roosevelt has rod In pickle for discharged
official from whom he expects attack.
Page I.
Harriman wanted to be Senator. Page 1.
Foreign.
Russia calls peace conference but three Em
perors will not discuss disarmament.
Page 5.
Britain insists on discussing disarmament.
Page 5.
National.
Union Pacific offers to restore stolen coal
land If not prosecuted. Page C.
Taft on canal descends into deep pit. Page 4.
Major Penrose believes negro troops inno
cent. Page 4.
Conspiracy in Philippines for annexation to
Japan. Page 3.
Japanese pour into America from Mexico
and Canada. Page 5.
Politics.
Illinois Democratic leaders declare Hearst
Ism dead and Bryan shelved. Page 1.
Flnley speaks on watering of railroad
stocks. Page i.
Domestic.
Hermann testifies in his own defense. Page 4.
Haskln on fishing and fishermen. Page 2.
Thaw's insanity examination complete. Page
5.
Wellman confident of reaching Pole. Page 3-
Trainmen's reply to railroad managers ex
pected to prevent strike. Page 3.
Spelling reformers gain strength. Page 5.
Mrs. Eddy announces appointment of trus
tees. Page 3.
Twenty persons burned to death in San
Francisco. Page 'Z.
Pacific toast.
Hotel Washington destroyed by Are. Page .
Washington lumbermen will not attack Hill
charters. Page 6.
Governor Chamberlain names portage board.
Page 6.
Portland and Vicinity.
Mayor Lane refuses to run for Mayor on
Democratic platform. Page 1.
Theft of signatures to $10OO license referen
dum petition charged by Anti-Saloon
League officers; hold Auditor Devlin re
sponsible. Page 1.
Btate textbook commission plans to elim
inate antiquated school books. Page VI.
City Councllmen submit proposition- to In
crease their own salaries to vote of peo
ple. Page 11.
Who will succeed H. W. Goode as Portland
Railway. Light & Power Company's
president not yet known. Page 7.
Roscoe H. James and Grace N. Disney,
whom h murdered, were distant cousins
but ignorant of fact. Page 10.
Woman meets burglar on stairs and fright
ens him away by screaming. Page 7.
Grand opera season ends. Page 12.
Minority in Council tries to kill franchise
for Economy Gas Company. Page 11.
Construction of joint Y- M. C. A.-Y. W. C
A. building to proceed as soon as deed
is signed. Page 10.
Commercial and Marine.
Future of hop market is uncertain. Page 17.
Wheat prices affected by weather news.
Page 17.
Bonds In more demand than stocks. Page 17.
Steamship Arabia carries first grain cargo
for April. Pags 16.
HEAHST1SM DEAD,
SAY DEMOCRATS
Lid Nailed on Coffin
by Chicago Votes.
WILL SIDETRACK BRYAN ALSO
His Enemy, Sullivan, Now
Rules Illinois Party.
NO RADICALISM WANTED
Leaders Declare for Reorganization
of Party on Platform of Govern
ment Control of Corporations
and Also Tariff Reform.
CHICAGO, April 3. (Special. ) Wil
liam Jennings Bryan and W. R. Hearst
will both be side-tracked in Illinois
for the Democratic nomination as Pres
ident, following the crushing defeat of
the party at the Mayoralty election.
Roger C Sullivan Is now In supreme
power In the Democratic state organ
ization, and W. L. O'Connell, William
Loeffier and John E. Traeger. one of
the Harrison Democrats, are in control
of the county machinery.
Ex-Mayor Carter H. Harrison sound
ed Hearst's death knell In Chicago
when he said today that Dunne's de
feat was attributable to Hearst. The
feud between Bryan and Sullivan is
considered too bitter to allow of any
thing in the way of patching up.
Plans to Reorganize Party.
Plans for reorganizing the party
along conservative lines, adopting ra
tional platforms and whipping the
Democrats into line were heard on all
J The article by Frederic J. Haskln
I will be four- 2 of this edl-
tlon.
sides toJay. Sullivan stands squarely
for Governmental regulation of cor
porations and tariff reform as the is
sues In National politics. In local af
fairs, the leaders declared, the plat
form must be so drawn as to satisfy
both conservatives and radicals.
With W. R. Hearst conducting a
campaign of vilification and attacking
the Democratic Aldermen, it was ad
mitted today there was little chance
from the start for Mayor Dunne's re
election. The real issue In the cam
paign became "Hearstism." Harrison
gave out the following statement:
The election means the defeat of Hearat
ism. It shows that Chicago will not stand
for the Hearst brand of politics and this U
accentuated by the fact that the only man
elected on our ticket was John E. Traeger.
the Democrat most bitterly attacked by
Hearst.
I do not believe municipal ownership is
dead. Witn many other Democrats, I be
lieve the ordinances are the quickest route
to municipal ownership when the city la
ready to undertake it.
Sullivan said:
It Is evident that all elements of the party
must show a spirit of toleration toward each
other's views. Any attempt to foist extreme
radical doctrines into the platform will be
followed, as in the case of tha. Mayoralty
election, by defeat. In National politics we
must realize that the function of govern
ment is not to engage in commercial pur
suits and tnat, so far as the railways and
other corporations are concerned, it is a
matter for governmental regulation and not
ownership. The old Democratic principle of
tariff reform must be revised and w can
then go before the country with a sane and
popular programme.
OLD APPORTIONMENT STANDS
New York Court Decision Is Polit
ical Earthquake.
ALBANY. N. T.. April 3. The entire
apportionment of Legislative districts
made by the last New York Legislature
is overthrown in a decision handed down
today by the Court of Appeals. The Court
reverses the judgments of the courts be
low, which have sustained the act. The
decision does not affect the personnel or
invalidate the acts of the present Legis
lature, but the political relations and
alignments in every part 3f the state
made to suit the new conditions hve
been thrown into confusion; formerly in
fluential politicians who were supposed
to have been killed politically by last
year's apportionment return to the field
of Influence. Far-seeing politicians here
say that it is impossible to calculate the
consequence of the decision, which they
describe as a "political earthquake.'
It is generally believed here that the
decision may prolong throughout May
and perhaps into June the session of the
Legislature, because of the necessity of
enacting a new apportionment, the court
holding that unless this is done the next
election for members of either house must
be held under the apportionment laid
down in the constitution of 1396, which the
reapportionment act of 1906 was intended
to supersede.
FRESH SHOCKS IN ARMENIA
More Deaths and Many Houses De
stroyed at Bltils.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 3. Consular
dispatches from Erseroum. Turkish Ar
menia, dated yesterday, say that strong
earthquakes were felt at BItlls throughout
the night of March 31, resulting in fresh
casualties and the destruction of houses.
The. majority of the buildings there are
unsafe.