PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, . APRIL 15, 1907.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
VOL. XLVI.-NO. 14,462.
SPOKANE
HEARING
NEARING AN END
Portland Jobbers
Testify Today.
COMMISSION'S SESSION HERE
Case Most Important Now
Pending Before Tribunal.
VITAL QUESTIONS RAISED
Victory for Inland Empire Metrop
olis Before Interstate Commerce
Court Would Mean Entire Re
adjustment ol Tariffs.
Before Commissioner C. A. Prouty,
sitting as the Interstate Commerce Com-i
mission this morning In the Federal
Court, will begin the final hearing of
the Spokane terminal rate case. The
complaint that is being Investigated Is
aid to be the most Important before
the Commission. The decision will
be eagerly awaited by many 'West
ern cities that are " not ' seaports, for
similar complaints will probably be filed
by them should Spokane win Its case. It
Is generally understood that the outcome
of the pending case will be a general
revision of rates If Spokane wins, while
rates to Coast cities will continue to be
lower than to those of the interior if
the Commission decides against Spokane.
The Railroad Commissions of Montana
and Washington will watch the case
closely, for both states are directly in
terested. Eastern Washington and Mon
tana are allied with Spokane, while West
ern Washington Is Joining hands with
Portland and San Francisco.
The Portland Hotel is crowded with
railroad officials from Hill headquarters
at St. Paul and the Sound, while attor
neys and representatives of the Jobbing
interests at San Francisco are also here
to attend the sessions. The length of
th hearing is not known. It will prob
ably continue for not less than three
days.
Some of the Big Guns.
Brooks Adams, of Boston, Is attorney
in charge of Spokane's case. He is as
sisted by H. M. Stephens, Corporation
Counsel of Spokane, and Alex Winston,
his assistant. Three witnesses from Spo
kane will be available if needed to rebut
the testimony introduced by the Portland
jobbers.
Portland wholesale merchants will take
the stand against Spokane's contentions
for lower rates from the East. J. N.
Teal, attorney for the Portland Jobbers,
will call W. A. Mears, secretary of the
North Pacific Coast Jobbers' Association;
Henry Hahn, president of Wadhams &
Co.; T. D. Honeyman, president of the
Honeyman Hardware Company; L. A.
Lewis, president of Allen & Lewis; Alfred
F. Biles, manager for W. P. Fuller & Co.;
C. D. Brunn. secretary and treasurer of
the Blake-McFall Company; George W.
Lawrence, president of the George Law
rence Company; A. H. Breyman, secre
tary of the Breyman Lumber Company,
and others as witnesses.
These merchants will tell what they
know about the shipment of goods from
the Atlantlo Coast by water, showing
that the alleged "water competition,
which is apparently the peg upon which
the Portland Jobbers are willing to hang
their whole case. Is not a myth and
actually exists. The witnesses are men
who ship quantities of stocks by vessels
from the East, and they will explain to
what extent the steamers and sailing
ships compete with the railways for this
business.
Why Case Is Important.
The case has an Important bearing
upon the .rate question throughout the
West." said Mr. Teal. "It involves
tariffs, terminal rates and all that goes
with rate making. Interior cities through.
out the West are, of course. Interested in
the outcome."
Commissioner Prouty arrived yesterday
and enjoyed the sunshine while looking
around the city. He will conduct the
hearing unassisted by a lawyer, as it Is
only at Investigations where cross-ques
tioning is necessary to bring out the
evidence that an attorney representing
the Commission appears at a hearing.
Commissioner Prouty Is unable to tell
Just how long the Portland session will
be. He exjfccts at the conclusion of the
Spokane case to take up a postponed
hearing here on the rates affecting the
shipment of corn and its products from
Kansas City to the Coast.
California Is Represented.
California Jobbers are well represented
here by Colonel H. D. Loveland, president
of the Pacific Coast Jobbers' & Manu
facturers' Association, and Seth Mann,
attorney for that body, both of San Fran
cisco. These men are lending all possible
assistance In defending the present rates
from changes adverse to the Coast dis
tribution centers. Nevada cities are un
derstood to be awaiting the outcome of
the Spokane case before filing a similar
complaint with the object of securing a
part of San Francisco's Jobbing trade.
"I think the Spokane ' attorneys are
willing to withdraw the contention that
water competition is not effective and
admit that It Is a factor In keeping down
railroad rates to points reached by both
railroads and water lines," said Attorney
Mann In discussing the position San Fran
cisco takes. "We shall contend." he
continued, "that any reduction of rates
to Spokane, if allowed, shouM not be
confined to that, point, but that the whole
system of rate making should receive
consideration and that east-bound dis
tributive rates out of the Coast cities
should be reduced in at least the same
ratio as any reductions that may be
granted to the City of Spokane from the
East.
Redaction Not Justified.
"There is nothing in the situation as
presented in the Spokane case by the
City of Spokane which justifies any re
duction of interstate rates ,at that point
which are not equally the subject of con
sideration at Coast points. The Coast
cities maintain that even at the present
time their rights with respect to dis
tributive rates are not granted to them
by the railroads. The reduction of rates
at Spokane would accentuate this in
justice and deprive the Coast of further
distributive territory.
"The Coast cities claim their trade rela
tions to the territory Involved in the
Spokane case should not be overlooked
and that it would be a one-sided decision
which would look only to the interests of
Spokane and would at the same time do
injustice to the great majority of the
people of the West and the Northwest.
) The question of water competition was
brought out at the January hearing on the
Spokane case. We believe the influence
of water transportation In lowering rail
rates is convincing and conclusive."
' What Spokane Contends.
' One of the Spokane attorneys said that
bis city's position is that water competi
tion as an element in rate making can
not' be denied, but they are not by any
means satisfied as to the extent, of
water competition in the case at issue.
'A certain amount of goods to this
Coast will, of course, he shipped by
water," he said, "but the quantity ship
ped in that way Is comparatively insig
nificant in relation to that brought by
ra'.l. While there Is water competition to (
some degree, we take the stand it is not
material whether there is or Is not
water competition.
We contend we pay an excessive rate
and we claim the railroads can reduce
our present charges and still make plenty
of money. That is our position In a
nutshell. This Is not a Jobbers' fight.
We regard It as more Important that a
large number of people in the Interior
have cheaper rates than that a few job
bers shall make a lot of money."
The first hearing In the Spokane case
was held In Spokane last January. A sec
ond session followed In Chicago in March.
Today's session win open the third of
the heatings and probably the last.
Recalls Hill's Promise.
Spokane has already succeeded in
getting into the evidence the fact that
when the Great Northern was built, J.
J. Hill applied to the city for free rights
of way through the municipality. These
were given him. The property handed
over to the railroad was valued at that
time at 400.000 and is today easily
worth $1,000,000. At a public meeting
at that time, Mr. Hill addressed the
citizens and assured them that in return
for their gift, he would give them as low
rates from the East as any city to the
south or west. Because Spokane rates
are higher than those to Seattle, Tacoma,
Portland and San Francisco, the interior
city has brought .up this promise, made
years ago
Prominent railroad officials who are in
Portland will doubtless testify in regard
to the cost of rebuilding the transcon
tinental lines. Testimony of this kind
relating to the Northern Pacific was
taken at the Chicago hearing. It Is be
lieved the railroads desire to show the
cost of building the lines in order to
establish the showing that the charges
are not excessive. Spokane will contend
that the cost of building a transcon,
tinental line today, when materials, labor
and property are so high, would be twice
that of the original construction and
that charges for freight should be based
on the first cost rather than on estimates
of the duplication of the lines.
Some of the Official's.
Ben Campbell, traffic manager of the
Great Northern; W. W. Broughton,
freight traffic manager; A. L. Craig,
passenger traffic manager; H. M. Adams,
assistant traffic manager; L. C. Gllman,
counsel for the Hill lines; J. G. Wood-
worth, traffic manager for the Northern
Pacific; Henry Blakely, general Western
freight agent, and Northern Pacific At
torneys Cannon and Donnelly, of Spo
kane and Butte, are among the railroaders
who were flocking In all day yesterday.
Even more officials may may arrive today
to attend the hearing and give testimony
if needed.
Colonel Loveland, who is also president
of the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Con
gress, is likely to be called on as
witness to tell of the Interests of the
Pacific Coast Jobbers' and Manufacturers'
Association in maintaining the present
rates. He said:
"This is not a fight on Spokane. Our
action is simply for the purpose of main
taining the rights of the Coast."
Local railroad officials will be promi
nent among those in the courtroom today.
Traffic officials of the Harriman lines in
the Northwest and W. W. Cotton, counsel
for the Harriman interests, are expected
to take part in the case, while L. C.
Gllman, attorney for the Hill Interests,
will also question witnesses.
THE DAY'S DEATH ROLL
Cattle King of the Rockies.
DENVER April 14. John H. Durbin,
who made millions in mining and cattle
raising, died here today of pneumonia.
He was 67 years of age. Mr. Durbin was
known as the "cattle king" of the Rocky
Mountain region. At one time he owned
the famous Homestake Mine of Dead-
wood, S. D., now the property of the
Hearst estate. Although Mr. Durbin lost
the bulk of his great fortune, he died
wealthy. A daughter, the wife of Frank
Benton, a leading cattle-raiser of this
state, survives him.
James Addison Quareles.
LEXINGTON, Vs., April 14. James
Addison Quareles, D. D., LL. D., for the
last 21 years professor of moral philoso
phy at Washington and Lee University,
died today, aged 70 years.
Grandmother of C. H. Mackay.
ROME, April 14. Mrs. Hungerford.
grandmother of Clarence -H. Mackay, died
here today.
AMMAN
WILL
HAVE LESS POWER
No Longer to Be Abso
lute Head of System.
DIRECTORS TO TAKE A HAND
Title of President to Be Vested
in New Board of Control.
O'BRIEN TO GO FORWARD
Will Be Made President of O. R. &
H. System New Men Will Share
Responsibility "With Harriman
in the Road's Management.
OMAHA, Neb., April 14, (Special.)-.
strong impression prevails among railroad
men that E. H. Harriman will not be re
elected to the position of president of the
several roads in the system which bears
his name. This does not mean that he Is
to retire or that he Is in any sense losing
his control of the Immense properties
which he has controlled s6 long and so
successfully. -
While no announcement of the fact has
been made and none is looked for in the
immediate future, it Is a matter of com
mon talk that after the next annual meet
ing of the different roads, the title of
president will be held by the present vice-
president and that Mr. Harriman will be
come chairman of the board of directors,
Under this plan A. L. Mohler will become
president of the Union Pacific, E. E. Cal
vin of the Southern Pacific, W. H. Ban
croft of the Oregon Short Line and J. P.
O'Brien of the Oregon Railroad and Navi
gation Company.
The plan Is similar to that now In effect
on the Gould system. It will give a
greater individuality to each of the sepa
rate roads; while at the same time main
taining the present harmony of manage
ment.
Together with the change in the execu
tive heads of the roads, a strengthening
of the boards of directors Is looked for
by the addition of new men who would
share with Mr. Harriman the Increased
responsibilities which have come with the
great growth of the system under his
management.
ROOSEVELT ON ARBOR DAY
CHILDREN CAN LEARN LESSON
, TREE PLANTING.
People Must Not Live for Present
Alone Forests Must Be Preserved
for the Future.
WASHINGTON, April 14. (Special.)
President Roosevelt has addressed "To
the school children of the United States'
a message on the subject of Arbor Day.
He advises them to celebrate the day
thoughtfully. The message says:
"Arbor Day Is now observed in every
state in our Union, mainly In the schools.
At various times you give a day or part
of a day to special exercises and perhaDS
to actual -tree planting, in recognition of
the importance ol trees to us as a Na
tion and of what they need In adorn
ment, comfort and useful products.
"It is well that you should celebrate
your Arbor Day thoughtfully, for within
your lifetime the Nation's need of trees
will become serious. We of an older gene
ration can get along with what we have,
though outgrowing hardship; but in your
lull manhood and womanhood you will
want what nature once so bountifully
supplied and man so thoughtlessly de
stroyed; and because of that you will
reproach us for what we have wasted.
For the Nation, as for the man or woman
and the boy or girl, the road to success
Is the right use of 'what we have and
the improvement of present opportunity.
If you neglect to prepare yourself now
for the duties and responsibilities that
will fall on you later; if you do not learn
the things which you wlU need to know
when your school days are over, you will
suffer the consequences. So any nation
which In Its youth lives only for the day,
reaps without sowing, and consumes with
out husbanding, must expect the penalty
of the prodigal, whose labor could with
difficulty find him the bare means of
life.
"A people without children would face
a hopeless future; a country without trees
is almost as hopeless. A true forest
not merely a storehouse full of wood, but.
as it were, a factory of wood, and at the
same time a reservoir of water. When you
help to preserve our forests or to plant
new ones, you are acting the part of
good citizens. The value of forestry de
serves therefore to be taught in the
schools. If your Arbor Day exercises help
you to realize what benefits each one of
you receive from the forests and how by
your assistance tnese benefits may con-
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.'
SMOKES WHILE HE DIES
Man Cuts His Throat, Then Smokes
as Iiife-Blood Ebbs.
EAST ST. LOUIS, 111., April 14. De
spondent because iiis wife had recently
left lii an, Charles Loush, a Hungarian,
today cut his throat with a razor and
then smoked cigars for two hours un
til he finally fell over dead from loss
of blood. Loush was employed in a
rolling- mill, and it was stated, the
comments of his fellow workmen con-
EVENTS OF COMING WEEK
Meeting; of Peace Congress.
The most important event of the
week will be the first National Ar
bitration and Peace Congress of
America, which will be held in New
York on Monday Tuesday and
Wednesday. The delegates include
representatives of the United States
to The Hague conference. Federal
and state Judges, United States
Senators, Representatives, Govern
ors, members of State Legislatures.
Mayors of many large cities, repre
sentatives ' of leading religious, pa
trlotlc and philanthropic organixa- ,
tlons. editors, business men and. la- '
bor leaders.
Andrew Carnegie, president of the
congress will preside. Secretary of
State Elihu Root. Governor Hughes
and Mayor McClellan will speak on
Monday evening. International views
of the peace movement will be ex
pressed Monday evening by Baron
d'Estournelles de Constant of France.
Baron Deschamps of Belgium, Hugo
Munsterburg of Germany, Sir Rob
ert Cranston t and W. T. Stead of
Great Britain, and Secretary of Cord
merce and Labor Oscar Straus.
The commercial, industrial and ag
ricultural aspects of the peace move
ment will be considered at a meet
ing Tuesday, when there will be ad
dresses by Secretary Straus and
r Others.
On "Wednesday afternoon the leg
islative and Judicial aspects of the
peace movement will be considered
. and addresses will be delivered by
William J. Bryan, John Sharp Wil
liams and others. About 1500 dele
gates have accepted invitations to
attend the various sessions.
New York Racing Season.
The horse-racing season at the New
York tracks will be opened Monday
at Aqueduct track. The Carter $10,
000 handicap will be the feature of
the first day.
About S00 delegates are expected
to attend the meeting of the National
Publicity Bill Organization in New
Tork Tuesday. William J. Bryan,
Samuel Gompers and others are ex
pected to speak.
Premiers of almost all the Brit
ish colonies have arrived in London
to attend the fourth colonial con
ference which will assemble April 15.
Among the chief questions to be dis
cussed are a project providing for a
permanent council, preferential trade
between the colonies and Great Bri
tain, Immigration and imperial de
fense schemes.
Evacuation of Manchuria.
The evacuation of Manchuria by the
Russian and Japanese troops and the
restoration of Manchuria to China,
as provided for by the treaty of
Portsmouth, will be completed April
16.
King Edward will meet King Vic
tor Emmanuel of Italy. April 18, at
Qaeta, near Naples.
Pope Plus has decided to hold a
consistory April 10, when leveral
cardinals are to be created.
On April 15, changes in the local
government of the Panama Canal,
which will abolish all the municipal
governments now in existence and
result in the harmonizing of the va
rious parts of the zone, will become
effective.
cernlng his wife's departure drove him
to desperation. He was an incessant
smoker and although he almost decapi
tated himself with the razor, he smoked
until he was dead.
SHOOTING AT TRQUTDALE
"Kid" Hatton Fires Twice at Bar
- tender and Escapes.
TROUTDALE, Or., April 14. (Special.)
Two shots were fired in a saloon row here
tonight, nearly resulting in the death of
Hans Morlta, a bartender. The shots were
fired by "Kid" Hatton, wno escaped Be
fore he could be arrested. Morltz was un
injured although the attack upon him was
at close range.
Last night the two men quarreled and
tonight Hatton, bent on ending the diS'
pute, entered Larsson's saloon where Mo-
rltz is employed. He urea the two shots
and was then driven away by Moiits and
his companions.
Sheriff Stevens was notified of the
shooting and came out from Portland. He
made no arrests as it was believed Hatton
escaped on an eastbound freight. Hatton
has the reputation of an all-round bad
man.
1 Ave. I ' -V
.- ; 0 ' " 'J
1' ' - -- 'I "1 f ' ..-r.- A-., -. . ,
JAMES H. ECKELS. CWKFTROIXEB OF CTRBEXCY - DCBXNO CT.EVE
LAXD'8 ADMINISTRATION. DIED OF HEART DISEASE YESTERDAY.
COUNTRY OPPOSED
TO
E
Indorses Policies of the
President.
HE WILL NAME NEXT NOMINEE
Opponents Have . No Strong
Man to Select.
FAIRBANKS HAS NO SHOW
If Republicans Do 3fot Insist on
Roosevelt Running Again They
Will Choose Leader Who
Will Continue Work.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, April 14. The anti-Roosevelt Re
publicans, not particularly the "Wall Street
element, but men who are primarily poli
ticians, men who have declared that the
country has had enough of Roosevelt
policies,, have evidently not stopped to
consider where they are going to find a
candidate strong enough to win the nomi
nation at the hands of the national con
vention in 1908. Some of these men, and
notably ex-Senator Thurston, have de
clared that it is time for a change; they
declare that the country Is tired of Roose
velt ideas and Roosevelt methods, and
wants to get back to the methods and
policies of McKlnley. As they express it.
the country wants to drop the radical and
take up the conservative.
Of course declarations such as these
either come from lack of comprehension
or are put forth for an ulterior purpose.
But granting these men speak truthfully,
or according to their best knowledge and
belief, where are they going to find a
candidate of the McKlnley type who is
willing to drop the reforms inaugurated,
and drop back into the easy-going meth
ods of McKlnley? Foraker is not euch a
man, to be sure. Cannon Is not of that
type. Fairbanks comes nearer filling the
bill than any man now in the field, and
if elected would probably give an ad
ministration very like that of McKlnley.
Will Not Name Fairbanks.
Presuming Fairbanks is the ideal candi
date of these men, and presuming he is
groomed as the candidate of the anti
Roosevelt wing of the party, how far
would he get with the next convention,
assuming that public confidence in Roose
velt is as strong next Summer as it is
today? The best politicians concede that
Roosevelt will dominate the Republican
convention of 1308, unless something un
foreseen should arise to shake the faith
of the people.
With Roosevelt In control, Fairbanks
would stand no chance of nomination.
Roosevelt is not favorable to the nomina
tion of Fairbanks and never was. What
is more, he never will be, for Fairbanks
is the antithesis of Roosevelt, and Is the
last man among the Presidential possi
bilities to carry out Roosevelt policies.
No one acquainted with Fairbanks be
lieves for a minute that the pursuit of
the railroads would be kept up after he
entered the White House. No one be
lieves that he would strain every nerve
to prosecute the violators of the inter
state commerce law. No one believes that
Fairbanks would bother himself about
the enforcement of the laws for the regu
lation of corporations.
No one believes that Fairbanks would
have either the nerve or' the desire to
stand between the people and Wall Street,
CHANG
Falrbanks is too thin to act as buffer, '
and he Is too fond of his elongated
anatomy to have - it further squeezed.
Fairbanks would be an "easy" President.
And that is just why he is not apt to be
nominated.
If Fairbanks could not be nominated.
no other representative of the .McKlnley
Republicans could be named. Fairbanks
Is far and away the strongest man of that
wing today, and he has a start over all
others that would make certain his nomi
nation should the McKlnley Republicans
control the convention. But there is
nothing on the present political horizon
to show that the rank and file of the
Republican party are tired of Roosevelt
politics. The opposing element thought
to defeat Roosevelt by conspiracy, but
that' plan was exposed, and Immediately
killed. .
Then some of the more' reputable men
In the party, Thurston, for instance, were
put forward to advocate a change from
Roosevelt methods to those of his pre
decessor. Thurston, said he found signs
of discontent with present politics, but
who knows what, inspired Thurston to
make such a statement? It is strange'
that Thurston should find those signs at
a time when the rest of the party, not
affiliated with Wall street, was finding
nothing but Indications of enthusiastic
approval of the course of the President
It will take a bigger man than Thurston
to lead the bolt from Roosevelt.
Roosevelt Gaining Strength.
As has been stated In these dispatches
before, there is only one thing that is
going to turn the people from Roosevelt
politics, and that Is to shake public con
fidence in the President. No President in
the previous history . of the country had
so firm a hold on public confidence as
Roosevelt, and his strength is greater
today than ever before. Every turn he
makes adds to his strength. Every time
he drives the probe deeper into the side
of some law-breaking corporation or some
Wall street magnate, the publlo looks on
and applauds.
The public likes that sort of thing. The
public has suffered because of the utter
disregard that has been shown for the
law by the very persons and corporations
the President Is pursuing. And as long
as the President keeps at the good work
It is reasonable to suppose that the pub
llo will stand by him. That, at any rate.
is current opinion In Washington.
Vain to Pick Man Now.
Before the anti-Roosevelt Republicans
pick a man for the nomination in 1908
they would better bring about general
discontent with Roosevelt politics, for un
less they can do this, all efforts looking
to the selection of a candidate will be In
vain. As things stand now Roosevelt will
virtually have the convention In the palm
of his hand, and if the convention. In
fit of enthusiasm, does not force another
nomination on Mr. Roosevelt, it will
certainly respect his wishes and nomi
nate a man committed to his policies; I
man whose nomination will bear the
hearty indorsement of the President. As
stated above, Fairbanks is not such
man; neither is any man of the McKln
ley type. As President Roosevelt would
say, "Fairbanks Is a political mollycod
dle," and this is not the age of molly
coddles in American politics.
If may be that ex-Senator Thurston was
merely seeking a little notoriety. He has
been out of the limelight for a long time
most people had forgotten there was such
a man. Nebraska had forgotten him. It
may be that he contemplates establish
ing a residence in some other state, and
desires, before doing so, to remind the
people that he Is Btlll on earth. But if
that was his motive, he took a peculiar
theme. Or, again, Thurston may Just
"want to be different." It all amounts
to the same in the end.
Clnb Plans Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the St. Johns
Commercial Club will be held next
Wednesday night at the office of the
president, " D. C. Rogers. Election of
officers is to be had. Mr. Rogers has
declined re-election as president, and
an effort is being made to secure som
other prominent business man to take
the place. Several have been men
tioned. but difficulty is being expert
enced to getting the consent of any
one to accept.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 62
degrees; minimum, 41.
TODAY'S Fair; northerly winds.
Foreign.
Severe -eartnquake shake City of Mexico.
Page 1.
Kin Leopold, by bold coup, recalls labor
bill from parliament, rage a.
National.
Senator Curtis, of Kansas, says his state ts
solid for Roosevelt. Page 3.
Ant i -Roosevelt Republicans have no strong
Presidential candidate, page l-
Fresident Roosevelt addresses arbor day
message to Children of United States.
Page 1.
Secretary Taft and party in San Juan.
Page 2.
Domestic.
Uaskln writes on Federation of Women'
Cluba Page 2.
James m. Eckels. ex-Comptroller of Cur
rency, found dead in bed. . Page. 3.
Lone robber holds up Montana stage and e
cures o,vw. x-w
Floods In Montana endanger Uvea of yeo
pie and stock, page 4. V '
Ha rrl man's power as bead of railway sys
tern, to be curtallea. Page 1.
Pacific Coast.
Measures under Initiative heavy expense to
taxpayers. Page 5.
Three Portland boys, armed for tour
adventure, apprehended at Albany. Page
4.
Sports.
Portland wins one game and other is no
score. Page 4.
Portland and Vicinity.
Final session of Interstate Commerce 'Com'
mission In Spokane terminal-rate
begins in Portland today. Page 1.
Elder Snyder preaches on liquor-license
problem. Pace 12.
Annexation- topic of absorbing interest In
Mount Scott district. Page 8.
M. Murloclc. tells what Municipal Leagu
has done in reforming Portland. Page 12.
Auditor Devlin- only candidate who works
to get voters out to register. Page 8.
Meningitis claims library messenger and in
stitution is closed. Page 14
Sports. Tri-CIty League opens baseball season with
game between brewers and milliners.
Page 4.
"Worry club Is formed to make predictions
- x defeat tor Beavers. Page 4.
TEMBLOR
ROCKS
CITY OF MEXICO
Shock Lasts MoreThan
Four Minutes.
PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM HOUSES
Cracks in Pavements and
Walls Collapse. ,
WORST SHOCK SINCE 1882
Although Communication Is Largely
Cut Off It Is Known That the
Earthquake Was Very Severe
I In Cities Further South,
CITY OP MEXICO, April 14. An earth
quake lasting four and a half minutes
startled this city tonight. The earth
rocked In a long swinging motion, terrify
ing the inhabitants but doing no damage
so far as can be learned at this city.
Clocks stopped at 11:34 P. M. (Mexican
time) and the perceptible motion of the
earth ceased at 11:38V&. The telegraph
wires were put out of commission and for
a short time the city -was in darkness ow
ing to the failure of the electric lights.
The asphalt on one of the principal busi
ness streets of the city was cracked open
for a distance of 10 yards. People fled
from their houses Into the streets.
Representatives of the Associated Press
made rapid searches over the city but
nothing beyond cracked walls and small
fissures in the pavements could be found.
At the police stations no deaths had been
reported up to 12:40 A. M. . A wall on San
tiago street collapsed killing a number of
horses and wounding five men.
Panic Feared for Time.
No reports have yet come from the
American colony but it Is not believed
that serious damage was sustained there.
although the houses, unlike those in the
old section of the city, are not built to
withstand earthquake shocks.
At the time of the first shock the cafes
and theaters were filled and for a time
a panic was feared, but owing to the pecu
liarly steady swinging motion of the earth
tne crowds lert the buildings in compara
tive order. The shock was preceded by
two bright electric flashes which lit up
iuo onjr io me nortnwest of the city. Vp
to this time the property loss is reported
as very small. A number of walls In un-.
...um uunumgs collapsed.
Refuse to Enter Houses.
A representative of El DIaro, a morn
ing paper, held a watch during the
shock and says the earth rocked for
fully four and one-half minutes. The
city is comparatively quiet, although
the streets are yet thronged with peo
ple, many refusing to enter their
houses through fear of a more severe
shock to come.
The official record of the meteoro-"
logical bureau gave the duration of
the shock as four minutes. The move
ment was from east to west in an oval
shape. The needlo first described ten
centimeters and later 21, then it swung
completely out of the dial, leaving the
exact strength of the shock a matter
of conjecture. The observer declared
that the center of the shock was prob
ably to the southward, and it is feared
that towns in that region may have,
suffered. '
Shock Along Coast.
Not a station of the Are department
received a call. One freak of the earth
quake was recorded. A driver of a
circus wagon who .was taking para
phernalia to a near-by railway station
was thrown from his seat by the force
of the shock. He was uninjured beyond
slight bruises received, but all of the
animals he was driving were killed.
Telegraphic communication as far
south as the cities of Oaxaca and San
Juan Bautlsta has been established, but
beyond the report that the shock was
very heavy in that region and .along the
gulf coast nothing more was learned.
From the City of Vera Cruz, south of
there, the shock is reported to have
been severe. At the meteorological bu
reau it was said the shock was the
heaviest experienced since 1882. From
what is known at this time, the shock
extended from the City of San Luis
Potosl on north to Oaxaca on the south
a distance of 500 miles.
MEN SCALDED TO DEATH
Explosion on Dredge Boat Kills
Two and Injures Eight Others.
KEY WEST, Fla., April 14. An explo
sion which occurred on the dredge George
W. Allen, engaged In extensive work on
the Florida East Coast Railroad at Key
West, early today, caused the death of
two Spaniards and injured eight others.
Four of the injured were badly scalded
on the bands and face. A tube In the
boiler burst, the escaping steam blowing
open the furnace doors and throwing live
coals and steam on the two men who
ware killed.
Jury in Bribe Case Can't Agree.
LITTLE ROCK. Ark., April 14. After
being out for 36 hours in the case of ex
State Senator Covington, charged with
accepting a bribe, the Jury reported a
disagreement and was discharged. Cov
ington is an ex-President of the Senate.