Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, August 13, 1907, Image 1

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    VOL. XL, VI NO- 14,564.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1907.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
STRIKE HAS
SPREAD TO
ALL CITIES
Telegraph Systems in
United States Are
Paralyzed.
m MI tie tins
"Operators Desert Posts From
One End of the Country
to the Other.-
PRESS ASSOCIATIONS ARE HIT
Mews Service Badly Crippled
as Result of Walkout.
MORE PAY IS THE DEMAND
Whistle Blasts Sound In Hundreds
of Offices and Work Ceases
Despite There Has Been No
General Strike Order.
THE STRIKE SITUATION.
COMMERCIAL OPERATORS .
Strike liti extended with great
rapidity throughout the United State
and telegraph business 1 everywhere'
paralyzed or badly crippled. Both x
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
Companies appear to be equally af
fected. PRESS OPERATORS At 7:80 P.
M.. New York time. Associated Press
operators left their keys over the en
tire system, refusing to give General
Manager Stone time to refer to the
board of directors of the Associated
:iaiea e
rages '
S L. .
Prese their demand for higher wag
and limitation of hours.
RAIL. WAT TELEGRAPHERS-
TV. Quick, grand secretary and
treasurer of the Order of Railway
Telegraphers, Issues order directing
railroad telegraphers not to handle
commercial messages. ,
Practically the entire telegraphic busi
ness of the country Is tied up as the re
sult of the strike inaugurated In most of
the large cities by the operators of the
Western Union Telegraph Company and
the Postal Telegraph Company, and one
or two other telegraph companies of
minor Importance.
The strike now involves not only the
commercial telegraphers, but also the
operators of the Associated Press in all
the large cities of the country, save a
few In New England and the Middle
West. The strike of the Associated Press
men came at the end of a day of ne
gotiations between General Manager
Melville E. Stone and officials of the tel
egraphers' union In New York. Owing to
the radical demands of his operators,
, General Manager Stone asked for 24
hours In which to advise with the mem
bers of the Board of Directors of the
association.
Radicals Refuse to Wait.
This request apparently was acceptable
to General Secretary Russell, of the
Telegraphers' Union, and to a large num
ber of Associated Press operators who
realized its reasonableness, but a number
of radicals on the Texas circuit would
not consent to a postponement of action
on the part of the Associated Press and
Quit their keys. This action was followed
largely throughout the country. The news
report of the Associated Press, however,
was not entirely crippled, the superin
tendents and correspondents in every sec
tion of the country managing through
various channels to secure the transmis
sion of a large volume of newa to the
members of the association.
A serious phase of the strike de
veloped yesterday afternoon and dur
ing the night when It was discovered
that railroad telegraphers in many
places were tampering with" the wires
at relay points. By withdrawing
"plugs" from the switchboards and
grounding the wires communication on
a number of circuits was interrupted
and ir. some instances entirely shut
off.
Tieup by No Means Complete.
From the developments of yesterday
and last night it seems certain that the
Order of Railway Telegraphers will
support the commercial telegraphers in
their strike, and it is not improbable,
that the railway telegraphers' organ
ization will become more deeply in
volved in the strike should it be of
lengthy duration.
While the strike at this time has the
appearance and to some extent the effect
of a general strike, such is not the case.
A large number of commercial operators
are still at their keys and will not s-o out
Until instructed to do : so by President
Small, who is now en route to Chicago,
where he will hold a conference on
Wednesday night with General Secretary
Russell ' and other officials of the tele
graphers' organization, and possibly with
President Gompers, of the American Fed
eration of Labor, President John Mitchell,
of the United Mine Workers of America,
and other leaders of the labor world who
are in Chicago awaiting the arrival of
President Small.
In Portland the operators of the West
ern Union and Postal Telegraph Com
panies struck last night The Western
Union men were called out by President
Branln of the local union at 7:21 o'clock.
The Postal operators left their keys at
7:44 o'clock. Both strikers were very
orderly. The messenger boys struck last
night at 11 o'clock after holding a meet
ing at which they formulated a demand
for a considerable increase in pay.
The only act of violence committed in
this city was an assault upon Randal
White, office boy in the local office of
the Associated Press. Young White was
j. H. Harriman, Whom the Courts
Will Compel to Tell Secrets of -Alton
Deal.
aent on an errand to the Western Union
office and was set upon and beaten by
striking messengers.
PRESS OPERATORS ON STRIKE
A. P. Employes Quit When Wages
Can't Be Raised at Once.
SAN FRANCISCO,' Aug 12. (Special.)
The telegraph operators in the employ of
the Associated Press throughout the en
tire country went on a strike this evening
because General Manager Stone was un
able to comply Immediately with their
demand for a radical increase in wages.
Mr.. Stone sent a-message io- -tha--operators
explaining that a compliance with
their demand would mean an increase
of over $200,000 annually in the Associated
Press. He stated that It was a mutual
organization conducted without profit, "and
that there was no reserve fund to meet
such an extraordinary expenditure. The
only way that an Increase Buch as was
demanded could be granted was by an
increase in the assessment of the mem
bers. It was manifestly Impossible to do
this within the 24 hours allotted by the
Telegraphers' Association. A meeting of
the board of directors would have to be
called, and as the board was composed of
15 men living in all parts of the country
it was impossible, to get them together.
Mr. Stone offered to meet a committee
of Associated Press employes, and to
make such recommendations as might be
agreed upon. This was not satisfactory
to the operators, and then Mr. Stone
agreed to call a telegraphic meeting of
the directors and asked the operators to
wait until Tuesday night. This request
was refused, and the operators by a small
majority voted to strike immediately.
At 5:30, San Francisco time, the men
left their keys and the entire system is
at a standstill.
A. P. STRIKE NOT GEXERAIj
Many Operators in Eastern Cities
Remain at Their Posts.
CHICAGO, Aug. 12. The Associated
Press operators in . Chicago, New York
and other leased wires points in the West
and South struck : at 7:30 tonight. The
strike is not general, and the operators
in Minneapolis, Duluth, Milwaukee, In
dianapolis, Detroit and Cleveland remain
ed at their posts.
The strike was against the wishes of
General Secretary Russell, of the Teleg-
MANAGER STONE TO THE OP
ERATORS. NEW YORK, Aug. 12. To all op
erators: The men who have stood
by the service In ' this emergency
will receive their salaries and will
be paid extra for the time served as
a bonus until further notice. Extra
men will be paid double price.
it. E. STONE, Gen. Manager.
raphers' Union, who, in common with a
majority of the operators desired 24 hours
extension of time in which to discuss the
situation, as Mr. Stone had expressed his
willingness to meet his men promptly in
an endeavor to arrive' at an understand
ing. By a narrow majority, however, the op
erators of the Texas circuit refused any
thing short of an authoritive reply to
their demands. As the matter is one
which must go before the board of di
rectors, Mr iStone was unable to do this
and the Texas men walked out. Other
circuits followed.
At 11 o'c.ock a comprehensive news re
port was being handled between New
York and as far West as Denver with
prospects steadily improving.
LOS ANGELES NOT BADLY TIED
Postal Suffers More Than the West
ern Union.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. - 12. The tele-
i Concluded an Paa-a a. ft
GRAFT DEFENSE
SCORES A POINT
State Supreme Court
Issues Order.
DUNNE MUST SHOW CAUSE
Superior Judges to Tell Why
They Deny Delay Writs.
TEST LEGALITY OF JURY
Prosecution of Halsey and Glass
May Come to Naught If Higher
Court Decide Indictments De
fective Hearing on Aug. 19.
HALSEY MAY YET RECOVER.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 12. Theo
dore V. Halsey, former agent of the
Pacific States Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, whose trial for
bribery was postponed on account
of his critical condition after a sur
gical operation. Is reported to show
signs of Improvement today and his
recovery is now expected. '
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12. The Su
preme Court, shortly before 5 o'clock to
night, issued orders directing Superior
Judges Lawlor, Cook and Dunne to show
cause before the higher courts, en banc,
at 10 o'clock A. M., Monday, August 19,
why they should not issue permanent
writs of prohibition restraining them from
proceeding with the trials of Rudolph
Schmidt, indicted for participation in
streetcar strike violence; Assistant Coun
sel William M. Abbott, of the United
Railroads, indicted on a charge of brib
ing Supervisors; Theodore V. Halsey and
Louis Glass, of the Pacific Telephone &
Telegraph Company, and W. I. Brobeck,
of the Parkaide Transit Company,, simi
larly indicted. vi f.r.m-: .
Victory for Defense.
The issuance of these orders, following
a long consultation of the Chief Justice
and associated Justices in chambers dur
ing the afternoon, is esteemed a great vic
tory for the joint defense in the bribery
graft prosecution, as It means that the
Supreme Court sees in the various
grounds on which the validity of the Oli
ver grand jury indictments are attacked
enough merit to call for arguments from
the contending sides before the highest
courts.
The chief ground on which the writs of
prohibition were prayed for is that the
Oliver grand Jury Is an illegal body, hav
ing ceased to exist when the new grand
Jury list for the present year was drawn
and certified to by the County Clerk, and
that hence the indictments by It returned
are null and void and cannot be tried in
any court. It is the response of the prose
cution that a grand Jury continues in
power until formally discharged by the
judge of the Superior Court who called
It Into being.
Answering a question. Chief Justice
Beatty made the following explanatory
statement to the Associated Press:
"The Issuance of these orders to show
cause does not stay proceedings in the
Superior Court. Orders to show cause
were issued instead of alternative writs.
OREGON'S DEMOCRATIC
I -
THE OREGONIAN'S TELE
GRAPH SEEyiCE.v
The regular daily tele
graph service of The Ore
gonian is today considerably
reduced by the strike of . the
commercial and press opera
tors. The regular .leased wire
service of the Associated Press
was interrupted before 6 P. M.
yesterday, Portland time. A
partial service, however, was
later carried over the commercial-wires.
Special serv
ice , from Chicago also came
through though not in the
usual volume. The North
west telegraph report was
cut down although it was sup
plemented by tise of the long
distance telephone. Every
possible effort is being made
by The Oregonian to get all
the news of the world as
usual despite the strike.
!
to avoid Interference with proceedings in
the lower court in the Interim,-!'
DECIDING WHO IS THE MAYOR
California Supreme Court Listens to
Taylor's Salary Claim.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12. Chief
Justice Beatty and five of the Associ
ate Justices of the Supreme Court, Jus
tice Kenshaw being out of town, sat
this morning to hear the arguments in
the application of H. G. McKannay, sec
retary to KUward R. Taylor, for a writ
of mandamus requiring Auditor Hor
ton to certify his salary claim for the
month of July. The real issue involved
is the determination of whether
Echmltz or Taylor is legally the Mayor
of San Francisco.
McKannay was appointed secretary by
Dr. Charles Boxton upon the election
of the latter by the Board of Supervisors,
under the domination of the "bribery-graft
prosecution to fill the vacancy In the of
fice of Mayor, declared to exist by vir
tue of the conviction of Schmit In the
Superior Court on a charge of extortion.
Charles H. Kollmyer, Mayor Taylor's
former law partner, appeared for Mc
Kannay. Mayor Schmllz, who resists the
mandamus application, was represented
by Charles H. Fairall. Present m behalf
of Auditor Horton were General W. H.
H. Hart. At noon the court took the
mandamus application under advisement.
'.Further Delay In Glass Case.
SAN" FRANCIiiCO, Atig. 12. The trial
of-Louis Glass, vice-president of the -Pacific
States Telephone & Telegraph Com
pany, accused of the bribery of Super
visors, began this morning before Supe
rior Judge Lawlor. Dilatory tactics were
adopted by the defense, and arguments
on various legal points consumed the
time of the forenoon session. When an
adjournment to 3 o'clock was taken, no
progress had been made.
MACLEAN IS RELEASED
Raisuli Has Liberated the English
man. TANGIER, Aug. 12. Raisuli has
freed Caid Sir Harry MacLiean.
Borah Coming to Seattle.
SEATTLE. Wash., Aug. 12. (Special.)
Mrs. W. E. Borah, wife of the Idaho Sen
ator who prosecuted Hayward, is here.
She says her husband will come to Puget
Sound to spend his vacation before begin
ning the trial of Pettibone in October. She
says Borah is suffering from the strain
of the trial.
1
American Cup Defender Wins.
ROCHESTER, N. Y., Aug 12. The
American defender of the Canadian cup
Seneca defeated the Canadian challenger
Adele today In the second of the races.'
t
m . .
POLITICAL MILKMAIDS GOING AFTER MORE MILK
E HIM TELL
I HE
Government Will Go
After Harriman.
BEGINS ACTION IN THE COURTS
Bonaparte Asks That Railroad
Magnate Be Summoned.
MUST EXPLAIN ALTON DEAL
Refusal to. Make Heply During
Interstate Commerce Hearing
Prompts Attorney r General to
Action Immunity for Alton.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. (Special.) It
was officially announced today that pro
ceedings are to be commenced Imme
diately in the United States courts in
New York to compel Harriman to answer
the questions' he refused to answer when
under the probe of the Interstate Com
merce Commission last Spring.
This, it is stated, is the only proceed
ings against Harriman Immediately in
Eight. It remains to be seen whether
things will be uncovered leading to crim
inal prosecution.
It was determined some months ago to
make the effort to force Harriman to
tell everything the inquisitors want to
know, and today's statement is merely
the manifestation of the Department of
Justice's readiness to begin action.
BODY BLOWS FOR OCTOPUS
Prosecution Will Continue Until
Standard Oil Is No More.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. (Special.)
Where Is the next "trust-busting" blow to
be struck? That is the question that has
been raised byf the resumption of activity
at the Department of Justice today. Attorney-General
Bonaparte has cut in upon
his vacation to come back here and set
certain things In action. He will remain
in Washington for two weeks before re
suming his quest of recreation. During
the period of his stay something import
ant Is likely to break loose.
Mystery surrounds all prospective devel
opments. The Attorney-General acts and
talks like a man who was anxious to do
something drastic to force anti-trust of
fenders to book in some manner that will
serve a better purpose than the Imposing
of fines.
That there are other anti-trust proceed
ings than those lately in the limelight to
receive attention in the near future was
strongly intimated today. No details will
be given out, however, until matters have
reached a focus. As to Standard Oil, It
was hinted that the fines already imposed
are but a beginning, and that before the
Government is through with the parent of
all trusts the giant corporation may be
mulcted of millions and that the Landls
imposition will be made to seem a mere
bagatelle.
It also was indicated that suit to dis
solve the Standard Oil corporation, insti
tuted at St. Louis, Is to be prosecuted
with particular vigor. What form the ef
fort of the Government to break up the
Standard eventually may take is not cer
tain, but it Is said that some move Is in
contemplation that will be more effective
than the receivership ideas evolved with
W
WH
KNOWS
respect to certain other trusts, and upon
which the Department of Justice Is In
clined to pride itself greatly.
There is little doubt that the Adminis
tration has set to work to knock the
Standard Oil Company out of existence, if
such consummation be possible.
IMMUNITY BATH ' FOR ALTON
Rebate Cases Dropped Because of
Aid in Convicting Standard Oil.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. (Special.)
It became known today that the Chicago
& Alton Railroad was given an immunity
bath for its part In connection with illegal
rebates for which the Standard Oil Com
pany was recently convicted and fined
129,240,000. As a reason. It is probable that
the cases against the Alton, which mignt
have carried with them fines amounting
to several millions of dollars, will be
dropped.
It appears that former Attorney-Gen-
Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney
General, Who Asks That Harri
man Be Summoned Into Court.
eral Moody, now a Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States', under whose
direction the Standard Oil cases were
instituted used the Chicago & Alton to
gain the Information necessary to con
vict the octopus. Special Counsel Morri
son, ex-United States District Attorney
for the Chicago district. It Is understood,
promised the Alton immunity from
prosecution In return for the information
furnished.
In all probability this was not known
to Judge Landls. The Department of
Justice, however, feels the moral obliga
tion Imposed by Mr. Morrison's work,
and has fully Informed Judge Landls of
the situation.
BONAPARTE BACK TO WORK
Department Will Prosecute Harri
man if There Is Chance to Convict.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. Attorney
General Bonaparte returned today from
his vacation at Lennox. Mass. He was
unwilling to discuss the reports that he
had returned to begin criminal prosecu
tion in the Harriman and Standard Oil
cases, but, speaking generally, he said
the Department stands ready to bring
criminal action when there seems a good
chance to convict. The taking of testi
mony in the St. Louis case against the
Standard Oil Company, for the dissolu
tion of the concern, will begin in New
York, September 3.
CALL HARRIMAX INTO COURT
Bonaparte Demands Answers Rela
tive to Chicago & Alton.
NEW YORK, Aug. 12. United States
District Attorney Stlmson today filed in
the Circuit Court In this city a petition
that H. H. Harriman and Otto H. Kuhn,
the latter of the firm""" of Kuhn, Loeb &
Co., be summoned into court to show
cause why they should not answer cer
tain questions relating to the control of
the Chicago & Alton several months ago.
Mr. Stlmson acted for Attorney-General
Bonaparte In filing the petition.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather,
T ESTE7ROA Y'fl Maximum temperature.
70
degreea; minimum, 61 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair and warmer: northerly winds.
Telegrapher Strike.
Walkout in general over whole VniUd
States, Page 1.
Press associations badly crippled by strike.
Page 1.
New York operators quit keys at sound of
whistle. Page 1.
Foregn.
Japan sese troops capture Kang Wha Island
after two days lighting. Page 2.
Prince Yl escapes death sentence by being
out of reach. Page 2.
National.
Harriman will be haled Into court and made
to tell secrets of Chicago & Alton deal.
Page 1-
Department of Justice will continue prose
cution of Standard OIL until octopus is
annihilated. Page 1.
Domestic
Frank Rockefeller piqued by his brother's
success. Page 2.
Indiana girl returns home to find both
parent murdered. Page 2.
Report that J. J. Hill Is losing, control of
the Northern Pacific. Page 5.
Pacific Coaet.
Defense in San Francisco graft cases wins
victory in Supreme Court. Page 1.
Graft and reform element fighting for con
trol of primaries in San Francisco today.
Page 3.
Construction of a dam In Idaho inundates
thousands of acres of farm lands.
Page 4.
Franchise asked of Salem Council for new
electric road through Willamette Val
ley. Page 4. '
Union Pacific Is considering two
getting Into Tacoma. Page 9.
Portland and Vicinity.
Portland telegraph operators strike.
Despondent undertaker commits
ways of
Page 1.
suicide.
Page 9-
M. B- Rankin closes $1,500,000 deal for big
timber tract In Benton County. Page 9.
Rival litigants bandy warm words over pos
session of "Billy" Ayers quarters.
Paae 10.
lit , ?-Ci- t
PORTLAND UNION
OPERATORS QUIT
Telegraphers Strike
Without Warning.
BOTH COMPANIES AFFECTED
Wires Are Kept in Operation'
by Limited Forces, .
MESSENGER BOYS IN LINE
They Promptly Demand One-Third
Increase in Wages and Walk
Out Both the Companies and
the Strikers Are Confident, , '
OPERATORS ON STRIKE IX f
PORTLAND.
Western Union Telegraph Com- .
pany 50
Postal Telegraph-Cable Company 12 t
Wage raid.
Western Union
Chiefs, per month ...$110 to 125.00
.Operators, maximum 8.00
Operators, minimum .. 60.00
Averaipe .......... 72.00
Postal Company
Chiefs $120.00
Operators, maximum ' 00.00
Onerators. minimum .... - 6U.00
Avjsrage 82.50 f
I
For an hour last night Portland "was
without telegraphic communication with
the outside world. The initial move in
what may prove the most serious strike
of telegraph operators ever experienced
here was made at 5:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, when the entire force of opera
tors employed by the Associated Press
service walked out. Less than two hours
later they were followed by every union
telegrapher . on the night forces In the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph of
fices. Not to be outdone by the men who
prepare the messages for delivery, th
Messenger Boys' Protective Union, rep
resenting more than 60 messenger boys,
presented a demand for increased wages
and walked out at 11 o'clock last night.
At a late hour, however, both the West
ern Union and the Postal offices had re
placed in part their striking night forces,
and were handling all urgent commercial
business. Seven operators were working
at the Western Union office, and a force
of four men. Including two general super- -'
intendents, were attending to the keys at
the Postal office. The managers of both
telegraph offices said late last night that
they would be able to find a temporary
operating force to look after the business .
today.
All Union Men Out.
All .union telegraph operators in the
city have been called out and the strikers
will sea that none of their number, who
may bs employed on the day shifts, is
allowed to resume work this morning.
Operators employed in local brokerage of
fices will bo allowed to remain on duty
temporarily, reported President Branin,
of the Telegraphers' Union last night.
But with, conditions in other cities
throughout the country to seriously dis
turbed there will not be much for them
to do since a very Incomplete and unsatis
factory market and stock quotation serv.
Ice is being received.
The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
Company, which operates a limited tele
graphic service, will not be affected in
any way by the strike, says City Man
ager Hickman. This company employs
five operators but they are not members
of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union.
The only telegraphic business done by
this company is that In connection with
its long distance telephone service. It
does not undertake to do commercial tele
graphing and handles only such business
ai Is brought to it.
The striking telegraphers are confident
trey have the controlling hand and be
lieve that before another day has passed
they will have the telegraphic business of
the er.tire Pacific Northwest successfully
tied up. They assert there are not
available a sufficient number of compe
tent nonunion operators to give a satis
factory service even if it should be possi
ble to draft them all into the harness.
Men Act Without Warning.
The local walkout was unexpected and
Is in violation of the resolution alopted
by the local union of telegraphers last
Friday night when the Portland' tele
graphers voted to remain at their posts
until ordered out by President Small, of
the National organization. But the con
servative members of the organization
were unable longer to hold the radicals
In line and a strike under the authori
zation of Walter Branin, president of the -local
union, took place at 7:20 o'clock
last night.
The men employed in the Western
Union office had only been waiting for
what they might consider a good chance
to strike. This decision was hastened
by the walkout of the Associated Press
telegraphers late yesterday afternoon.
Shortly after 6 o'clock some messages
for transmission to Lewlston, Idaho,
were filed with the Western Union by the
Associated Press. When this work was
distributed among the operatives, they
balked and informed the chief that they
would leave their posts before they
(Concluded on Pace 31
r