Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, October 16, 1907, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    V .
VOL. XLiVI XO. 14,619.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1907.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
n
VILLAGE IN RUINS
Powder Mill Kills and
Maims Employes. .
WHOLE POPULATION INJURED
Fontanet, Indiana, Scene of
Blood and Wreckage.
TWO STATES FEEL SHOCKS
DuPont Works Destroyed by Four
Successive Explosions Every
Building Razed Untold Num
ber Dead Hundreds Hurt.
FONTANET, Ind.. Oct. 15. By the ex
plosion of the Dupont powder works to
day between 25 and 50 persons were killed,
600 Injured, and Fontanet. a city of J00O
people, was wiped out. Where stood a
thriving and busy town this morning, to
night there Is ruin and scattered wreck
age. The dead and more seriously In
jured have been taken away. Five hun
dred Inhabitants, all more or less wound
ed, remain to gather scattered household
(roods and sleep under tents, guarded by
soldiers of the Mate.
Without warning the powder -mills,
seven In number, blew up at S:15 this
morning. They employed 300 men, and of
these 75 were at work when the first ex
plosion occurred In the press mill. In
quick succession the glazing mill, two
corning mills and the powder magazine
blew up, followed by the cap mill. In the
magazine, situated several hundred yards
from the mill, were etored 4000 kegs of
powder.
The concussion when It blew up was
felt 200 miles away. Every house in this
town was destroyed. Farmhouses two
miles away and sehoolhouses equally dis
tant were torn to pieces and their occu
pants Injured. Indianapolis and even Cin
cinnati felt the shock. A passenger train
on the Big Four Railway, four miles
away, had every coach window broken
and several passengers were injured by
flying glass.
Following Is a list of the identified dead
and a partial list of the more seriously
Injured:
The Dead.
A. B. MONAHAN. general superintendent.
MRS. A. B. MONAHAN.
MRS. MONABAN'S SISTER.
GEORGE JUSTICE.
JOHN BOBO.
WILLIAM bHEBILL.
HENRY HARRINGTON.
FYLVESTEh DIAL.
A. r. WEBSTER.
SAMMY NEVINS.
YATES.
WILL DAI.TON.
OEORGE HODGE.
JOHN GRAY.
FRANK DIAL.
HON DIAL.
JOHN DIBI19.
FRED KRESS.
JOHN NEVINS.
EDWARD NEVINS.
FRANK INGALLS.
SAMUEL INGALLS.
MISS SUSIE BISHOP.
WILLIE HODGE, axed. 7 years.
T. T. KELLUP, Wilmington, Del.
The following- died In the St Anthony
Hospital, Terre Haute:
HENRY CHANDLER.
W. E. GRIFF.
CARL WOOD.
I.. J. CARROLL.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN.
The Injured.
Albert Webster, leg broken.
Miss Grace Brannon, eye put out and
Scalp injured.
Klmer Bright, limbs crushed.
George Hodjtes, wheelwright In mill.
General Walker, arm burned and Intern
ally Injured.
L. M. Carroll, flesh Cooked.
Mrs. Thomas Parr, scalp wounds.
Mrs. Martha Webster, cut on head.
Wllliftm Hodges, badly burned.
Andy Plttman, internal Injuries.
H. M. Edwards, cut about head and body.
Mrs. Rachael Montgomery, cut about
head; cannot recover.
VV. P. McCoy, scalp wounds.
W. M. Sharrod. hand and feet and body
crushed.
Charles Nash, cannot recover.
Wlilard. Carroll, cut about head.
. Elmer Bright, cut about face and body.
Professor J. R. Shotpaugh, of Fontanot
schools, serious body Injuries.
GeorR-e Stewart, seriously hurt.
Miss Susan Bishop, teacher at Coal Bluff.
Mrs. Wasteller. fatally Injured.
John Gray, employe powder mill.
Alex Blddlc.
Harvey Chandler.
Alva Edwards.
Fred Cross.
Edward Cross.
Harvey Kelso.
L. J. Harris.
Carl Hamerlck.
'Mr. Vulker.
' William Walker.
James Thompson.
Mrs. Blras Brannon.
Mary Branr.on.
Four Distinct Explosions.
The mill went up with three distinct
explosions, followed 90 minutes later
by a fourth, even more serious than
the others, when the magazine went
up. Immediately after the explosions
the wreckage took fire and the inhab
itants of the town who rushed to the
rescue of the mill employes found
themselves powerless to aid those
burning in the ruins. They worked
frantically, in constant danger from
possible succeeding explosions, unmind
ful of their ruined homes.
Dead and dying were picked up and
collected. Klghteen bodies horribly
burned and mangled were carted to a
protected spot to await identification,
while the badly Injured, numbering up
ward of 60, were put on a special train
and taken to Terre Haute for hos
pital accommodations.
Scarcely one of the 1000 inhabitants of
the town but carried blood on hands and
EXPLOSIOI
face from his own wounds or those of
people who had required aid. The mills
were located one mile south of town.
With the first explosion the employes ran
for safety, but most of them were killed
or wounded by the quickly following
explosions in the other mills. When the
heat from the burning mills exploded the
giant powder magazines 90 minutes later,
destroying the town by the concussion,
many of those engaged in rescue work
were badly injured and several killed.
Superintendent Monahan, of the plant,
was killed while In his office, and his
wife and sister-in-law were killed In their
homef some distance away.
Among the buildings totally destroyed
In the town were the Methodist and
Christian Churches, two school buildings,
the depot, all business blocks, including
a large block just completed, a large
warehouse and 500 homes.
Traiii Blown to Pieces.
Fronts, roofs, sides and even founda
tions of many buildings have been
blown to pieces. Great holes are torn
in the ground, fences have vanished
and household goods from the ruined
homes are in confused heaps of debris
in all directions. The people of the
town who had rushed from their homes
at the first explosion were saved be
cause of this. The shock from the ex
ploding magazine wrecked the build
ings in the town.
A Big Four Bailroad freight train on
the switch leading to the mills was
practically destroyed by the explosion
and the wreckage caught fire. Engin
eer Charles Wells was badly burned
and sustained a fracture of the right
leg.
Three school buildings were des
troyed at Fontanet and Coal Bluff, two
miles away. All were filled with schol
ars and every one of them was more
or leas injured by the collapse of the
buildings. A four-room school build
ing was torn to pieces and not one" of
the 200 children escaped unhurt, al
though none were fatally injured. A
two-room, school building at Coal Bluff
was turned over and collapsed. The
teacher and 90 pupils were more or
less injured.
The force of the explosion destroyed all
telephone communication with outside
towns, and it was with great difficulty
that aid was summoned. Terre Haute
and Brazil sent physicians and nurses
with supplies in carriages and automo
biles, while special trains were made up
and ran on the Big Four Railroad for the
care of the injured.
Troops Guard the Ruins.
Governor Hanley ordered the Terre
Haute Company of Indiana National
Guards to patrol the ruined district and
to protect life and property. The Gov
ernor arrived this evening. He brought
with him 700 tents and cots for the care
of the homeless.
Company B, Indiana National Guard,
comprising 40 men, immediately on reach
ing here today, reported to Sheriff Hors
ley, who placed the men around the most
damaged sections of the town. The sol
diers will act under orders from the
Sheriff unless the Governor sees fit to de
clare martial law. in which case a state
military officer will be placed in control.
The county school near Fontanet
with an attendance of 50 country chil
dren, had just been called to order when
the explosion occurred. The walls of
the building and roof collapsed, but
none of the children were dangerously
Injured. The teacher. Miss Susan
Bishop, of Terre Haute, was struck
by a falling beam and hurt. Immed
iately after the explosion the four
walls fell outward and the ceiling
crashed down on the crowded room.
Those who had not been Injured
by the explosion, rushed toward the
powder mill. Every one was panic
stricken. At first no one gave heed to the wild
(Concluded on Page 2.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY' S Maximum temperature, 63
degrees; minimum, 50 degree.
TODAY'S Fair; northerly winds.
Foreign.
Francis Joseph's condition does not Improve,
though he denies he is slcK. Page 2.
National. -
Tatt's speech revives Japanese friendship
for America. Page 5-
Lane says rebates of Southern Pacific raise
grave problem. Page 1.
Railroad Commissioners convention means
amendment to rate law. Page 4. .
Politics.
Cannon's bitter comment on Roosevelt Ad-
ministration. Page 1.
Chicago Judge rejects as dangerous citizen
juror who will not obey all laws. Page 2.
IKmetic.
Nelson Morris heirs prevent will contest br
setting aside will. Page 3.
Stefansson says trial marriage succeeds
among Eskimo. Page 4.
Fish given big handicap over Harrlman by
' court in Illinois Central contest. Page 1.
Small defies operators' executive board to
depoee him and promises fight. Page 2.
Explosion of powder mill at Fontanet, Ind.,
destroys whole town and kills or Injures
hole population. Page 1.
Sport.
Portland wins game tn San Francisco series.
Page 7.
McCoy and Chandler make successful bal
loon ascension. Page 2.
Pacific Coast.
Threats made to destroy Presbyterian
church In Albany unless prosecution of
liquor cases ceases. Page 6.
Suit filed In Olympla to teat new primary
law. Page 6.
Albert Oleman, boy murderer, pleads gmllty
in second degree. Page
San Francisco grand jury gets evidence of
Calhoun's plots to kidnap witnesses.
Pago 3.
Commercial and Marine.
Strong position of rice market. Page IT.
Good support given Mock market. Page 17.
Chicago wheat prices are slightly higher.
Page 17.
Steamship Alesla arrive from the Orient with
a valuable cargo. Tea Is the principal ar
ticle. Pase lti.
Portland and Vicinity.
Referendum law attacked at Commercial Club
dinner. Page 1.
Garbage question nears solution. Page 12.
Taxpayers may examine assessment roll.
I'age 10.
Teachers may get increase in "pay Page 13.
British Government makes estimate of hop
crop. Page 10.
Portland Municipal association holds annual
meeting. Pajce 10.
Rose show collections satisfactory. Page 1&,
FINDS PROBLEM
IN REBATE EVIL
Can Government Solve
It, Puzzles Lane.
FEDERAL LAW IS NOf BROKEN
Harriman Gave Rebates on In
terstate Traffic.
HIS BOOKS CONVICT HIM
Interstate Commissioner Says West
Is Booming and Only Discour
aged People Are Those Who
Do Not Live There.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 15. (Spe
cial.) "Rebating by Western railroads
raises a grave question one which will
tax our statesmanship to the limit," de
clared Interstate Commerce Commis
sioner Lane today. "Not only is the
Southern Paciflo giving rebates, but the
Atchison also, and so are other railroads.
It is true that most of the rebating is up
on lntra-state business.
"The important question presented is
whether it is possible for the Federal
Government to punish such acts. The
railroads say, of course, that they are
not violating the Federal laws which
relate to interstate commerce. But,
granting that they are out of reach upon
their state business, it must 'be remem
bered that the rebating has the effect of
decreasing their earnings, and that its
effect is shown In the net earnings of an
interstate carrier.
"It is not true that all rebating upon
Interstate shipments has stopped. The
old method of giving a direct return of
a portion of the rate has been aban
doned very generally, but the roads
themselves will grow in time to see
the wisdom and benefit coming to them
from the strictest enforcement of the
law."
Liable to Prosecution.
"Of course, the violations of the anti-
rebating law which we discovered during
the recent hearings in the West render
the railrcdcJs and the officers who grant
ed them liable to prosecution. I am now
preparing my report on the discoveries,
calling attention to the violations of the
law. I will submit" it to the full com
mission at the earliest possible date. If
the usual procedure Is followed, the com
mission will refer the report to the De
partment of Justice for action in the
courts.
"We found in the Southern Pacific of
fice a list of preferred shippers, who paid
but a proportion of the published rate
upon state shipments. This list included
many of the largest and most Important
manufacturing firms. We also found
that 20 books which had. accumulated
since the fire of last year showed special
rebates. There are several thousand en
tries in all, most of them for very small
amounts. Nothing was developed at any
of the hearings connecting Mr, Harri
THE LATEST SAN FRANCISCO INSULT TO
The Provocation.
Notifying the Honorable
man with any knowledge of rebates
given by his subordinates.
West Is Not Worrying.
"The West is booming," said Mr. Lane.
"General conditions out there do not war
rant pessimism. The Waif 'street men
'who have a bad taste in their mouths
should take a trip over the United States
and see what is going on. They would
find every road burdened with more traf
fic offered than it could carry, both west
bound and eastbound. The farmers of the
West are not worrying over the future of
this country. The Western banks are so
filled with money that some of them are
actually declining deposits. Banks of
tlOO.OOO capital are carrying 3,000,000 and
$4,000,000 deposits. The freight of the
Northern Pacific has Increased over 50
per cent in the last three years and,
although it bought 10,000 cars during the
last year. It is suffering greatly from car
shortage. Everywhere west of the Mis
souri River there, is a great amount of
building and the people, in the presence
of the large crops and high prices, are
confident and buoyant.
"The only people who seem to be at all
dlscotiraged about the West are those
who do not live there."
CONFER OX UNIFORM BILL
Commission and Railroad Men Con
sider Committee's Work.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13. An important
hearing, involving the proposed uniform
bill of lading, was had before the Inter
state Commerce Commission today. Prac
tically every railroad In the United States
was represented, as also were the ship
ping interests. The commission had sug
gested the appointment of a Joint com
mittee by the carriers and shippers to
Biibmit a suitable form of bill of lading.
After numerous conferences ths commit
tee framed a uniform bill.
KEEP ON OWN SIDE FENCE
OANXOX'S COMMENT ON' KIND
OF PRESIDENT NEEDED.
Chafing Under Provocation, Speaker
Gave Candid Opinion ol Man
in the White House.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 15. (Special.) Jo
seph (3. Cannon, of Illinois, according to
an editorial today in the New York Sun,
which Is anti-administration, a year ago
declared with every appearance of sin
cerity, not to say excitement, that what
the country needed above all other things
was a Chief Executive who would "keep
on his own side of the fence, attend to
his own business and leave the Judicial
and legislative branches free to discharge
their respective duties."
Warming to the subject and evidently
chafing tinder It sonse of bitter provoca
tion, he is said to have added:
"The Republican party must offer the
American people that kind of a Presi
dent next time, or It had better go out
of 'business."
The alleged declaration has aroused
much Interest here, because it is as
sumed to be an animadversion on the
White House occupant and because the
Sun, speaking apparently with authorita
tive knowledge, declares the statement
was,not intended for publication nor has
It even been hinted at in the newspapers.
Defeated, Hau Will Appeal Again.
LEIPSIC, Germany, Oct. 13. The Su
preme Court today rejected the appeal of
counsel for Karl Hau, formerly of Wash
ington, I. C, for a revision of the sen
tence condemning him to death for the
murder of his mother-in-law, Frau Moli-
tor. An appeal for a new trial will be
made on technical grounds, which were
not advanced in the proceedings Just
ended.
Ally.
The
"nllijl.lW
HAS BIG HANDICAP
Court Says Disputed
Shares Don't Count.
EACH PARTY CLAIMS VIGTqRY
Only Vote Will Show Who Con
trols Railroad.
MANY PROXIES CONFLICT
Illinois Central Stockholders Have
Given Them in Duplicate and
Triplicate Contest Will
Reach Climax Today.
CHICAGO, Oct. 15. (Special.) Ed
ward H. Harrlman came to Chicago to
day and succeeded in drawing part of
the sting from the injunction which
Stuyvesant Fish secured on Monday
restraining the "Wizard" of Wall street
and his friends from voting nearly one
third of the stock of the Illinois Central
Railroad at the annual meeting which
is to be held here tomorrow.
Keeps Victory in Suspense.
After listening to arguments the
greater portion of the day. Judge Far
lln Q. Ball entered a new order modi
fying his restraining order and per
mitting the Harriman forces to vote
the disputed stock, amounting to 286,
731 Rhares, but subject to the condl-.
tion that it cannot bo counted to give
Mr. Harriman the victory. In accord
ance with the new order, the stock will
be voted as though it were legally held
by Mr. Harriman and his friends and
then, if it shall appear that Mr. Har
riman has sufficient stock to win with
out it, the election will be valid. If,
however, it develops that the disputed
stock was necessary to enable the Har
riman faction to elect Its directors,
then the election shall be deemed not
to have been held and shall be post
poned to Jjerember 18.. . ..
Fish Can't Win Today.
In other words, zft,!S71 out of the
950.400 shares of stock are to be vir
tually set aside so far as their being
of assistance to Mr. Harriman at this
time is concerned, and, if he has a ma
jority of the remaining stock, he may
conclude his election. If Stuyvesant
Fish has half or more of the remainder
then he will prevent Mr. - Harriman
from causing an election.
In no event can Mr. Fish cause an
election, and the best he can do under
the order is to prevent the Harrlman
forces from successfully concluding at
this time their programme to oust him
from the directory.
In either event, the Issue raised in
the suit begun by the Fish faction,
namely, the legality of the ownership
by the Union Pacific, the Mutual Life
Insurance Company and the Railroad
Securities Company of stock in the Il
linois Central and in half a dozen other
PROUD NIPPON
Something Doing Right Away.
Real Cause of It All.
roads, will be fought to a decision by
the court of last resort.
GIVES FISH BIG HANDICAP
Court Orders Disputed Stock May
Not Be Counted in Election.
CHICAGO, Oct. 15. E. H. Harriman
was today, by an order of court, de
prived of the voting power of 286,731
shares of Illinois Central stock in the an
nual meeting of that railroad company,
which opens here at noon tomorrow. The
order of the court was practically identi
cal with the modification asked by the
attorneys of Mr. Harriman. Both sides
claim a victory. Mr. Fish because the
enjoined shares will not be effective at
the election, and Mr. Harrlman because
his modification was secured.
The shares of stock ruled out are those
held by the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany, the Railroad Securities Company
of New Jersey, and the Mutual Life In
surance Company of New York, against
which a temporary injunction was yester
day issued by Judge Ball, in the Superior
Court.
Gives Fish Big Handicap.
The court today modified the injunction
by permitting the shares to be voted under
the condition that, if any one of these
shares should have a decisive effect on
any vote taken, the entire vote Is thou
to be null and void. In other words, Mr.
Fish is given by the court a handicap of
256,731 votes, and in order to defeat him
on any motion or resolution which comes
before the annual meeting, Mr. Harrlman
and his friends must cast 2S6.731 votes
more than are cast by Mr. Fish and his
followers.
The decision of Judge Ball was the re
sult of an agreement reached between
Thomas Nelson Cromwell, representing
Mr. Harriman, and Judge Farrar, of New
Orleans, who acted for Mr. Fish.
What Harahan Claims.
Mr. Herrlck, in speaking In support of
the modification, declared that President
Harahan, of the Illinois Central, held
proxies to the amount of 500,000 shares,
and that other, stockholders representing
93,000 shares would vote with Mr. Hara
han. This Included the 286,731 shares en
joined yesterday, leaving the claim of
the Harrlman people of their -voting
strength at 205,000 shares in round
numbers.
Mr. Herrlck declared that Stuyvesant
Fish had voted by proxy the Railroad
Securities shares and the 5000 shares of
the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of
New York, a proceeding which he says
was illegal.
Both Sides Expect Victory.
As the matter stands tonight, both
sides believe that victory is in their
grasp. Both are of the opinion that they
hold the greater number of proxies,
but the actual facts in this connection
cannot be guessed with any accuracy. It
is admitted in" this connection by the at
torneys on both sides that many stock
holders have lBsued duplicate and even
triplicate proxies, and, as the proxy
of latest date is effective, neither side
knows exactly where it stands. Neither
will give out figures.
Mr. Harrlman arrived in the city today,
but did not attend the court proceedings.
Mr. Fish was In court throughout tho
day.
Harrlman's View of Decision.
E. H. Harrlman, commenting on the
decision of Judge Ball tonight, left the
Impression that he considered it a decided
victory for his side.
"The papers in their headlines ha'e not
given the right impression of the court's
ruling," he said. "As I understand it, the
2S6.000 shares of stock in contention can be
voted provisionally. That means that. If
we have votes enough to elect our men
without the 2S6.000 shares, you probably
will hear nothing more about the matter.
If Mr. Fish has sufficient votes outside
this stock to put his programme through,
the matter will be taken-to the highest
courts of the land before it finally is
settled. Since the injunction has been
modified, the election will be held and
there will be a showdown. We are ready
to show and Mr. Fish will be expected to
show tomorrow."
In talking of the prospects of the Illi
nois Central. Mr. Harriman said he
though tthe building of the Panama Canal
would help the Illinois Central. Comment
ing on railroads generally, Mr. Harriman
said;
"The roads are all busy now moving
crops, and there Is no need of apprehen
sion of any sort for some time to come.
To keep the business of the roads up to
the volume now being handled there must
be new developments. That will come in
due time."
TAFT REACHES MANILA
Given Enthusiastic Welcome When
Escorted to Palace.
MANILA, Oct. 15. Secretary Taft ar
rived at 4:30 P. M. today from Hong
kong, and received an enthusiastic wel
come. His reception began with a
water parade,- headed by Governor
Smith. General Wood and Admiral
Hemphill. Tho Secretary was escorted
to the palace by troops and distin
guished Americans and Filipinos and
formally welcomed by the Mayor and
Governor-general. Thousands lined the
streets all day, awaU-ng Mr. Taft's ar
rival. Much discussion has been caused by
the fact that no liquors will be served
at the functions in Mr. Taft's honor to
be held at the palace, which step is
said to have been taken at the di
rection of the Secretary.
MOB PURSUES MONSTER
Nebraskans Eager to Hang Lascivi
ous Junk-Dealer.
GRAND ISLAND. Neb., Oct. 15. An
armed mob is in close pursuit
of Charles Foster, a Junk dealer,
who yesterday evening assaulted
the 9-year-old daughter of Henry
Bussler, a farmer. Foster escaped from
a deputy sheriff last night near Cairo,
and the mob at once took up the pursuit.
Declares Larger Dividend.
NEW YORK, Oct. 15. Directors of
the United States Express Company to
day declared a semi-annual dividend of
J3 per share, as compared with $2 for
the same period last year.
REFEHENDUMUW
HAS ITS ENEMIES
Shown at Commercial
Club Dinner.
EXPERIMENT IS DANGEROUS
Measure Comes in for Scath
ing Denunciation.
ABLE SPEAKERS ARE HEARD
Matter Conies Fp In Discussion of
University Appropriation Ban
quet One of Most Successful
Ever Held by Organization.
The initiative and referendum came in
for some hard knocks at the Commercial
Club's first monthly dinner of the Winter
last night. The referendum vote on tha
appropriation for the State University
was the subject discussed by a number
of able speakers, all of whom took oc
casion to express the opinion that tha
referendum Is a new and untried experi
ment in government. That it may easily
prove dangerous was- the belief of many.
The speakers placed themselves on rec
ord as favoring the university appropria
tion, and will work for it.
The dinner was the most successful
of its kind yet given by the club. Not for
a moment did the interest lag. The
speeches were unusually interesting, and
the attendance was large, plates being
laid for over 125 guests.
Casper W. Hodson, president of the
Commercial Club, acted as toastmaster.
The main dining-room was handsome in
Its decorations of American flags, and
the tables were brilliant with gay trim
mings of Autumn leaves. President
Hodson, in introducing the subject of the
evening, which was tho invoking of the
referendum on the State University ap
propriation, stated briefly how the emer
gency arose that now confronts the Uni
versity. He said" that TheTnstitution was ,
placed on a sound basis financially at
the last session of the Legislature, when
an annual appropriation of JI25.000 was
made for the support of the college. The
bill was passed and vetoed by Governor
Chamberlain, but was passed over tha
veto by the Legislature.
"The referendum was then invoked,"
said Mr. Hodson, "apparently by people
who were In support of the Governor and
thought the bllj should not pass. The
Commercial Club is not a political organ
ization in any sense, and what the speak
ers will have to say Is their own per
sonal opinions and must not be taken as
an expression by the club."
President Campbell Talks.
President Campbell of the State Uni
versity was the first speaker, telling
what the university is doing for the
youth of Oregon and describing the ur
gent need of the appropriation which
has been held up by the referendum.
His address appears in another column.
1-f. W. Scott, editor of The Oregonian,
gave a review of the initiative and re
ferendum, and also touched upon the
direct primary law. His remarks were
carefully listened to and frequently ap
plauded. Mr. Scott's address Is ap
pended. Clinton N. McArthur was called on
by Toastmaster Hodson and pronounced
the present dilemma facing the State
University as particularly unfortunate
at this time when the whole state Is
making such rapid strides in all di
rections and in none more notable
than in education. Public schools and
high schools, he said, are turning out
much larger numbers of graduates,
who are ready to enter college, than
ever before. "
"The states of the Middle West,"
said Mr. McArthur, "from which many
of our new residents are coming, are
well equipped for the complete edu
cation of their children. It is only
fair to them that we give these people
the same opportunity to educate their
children that they have a right to ex
pect. Otherwise Oregon will lose
heavily in this immigration, which will
be diverted to California or Washing
ton or other Western states.
"Oregon sends more of her young
people to the educational Institutions
of other states than our neighbors. If
our own state and denominational
schools were equipped as they should
be, we would not need to accept the
charity of these other states. but
Would be in a position to educate our
own people at home."
W. D. Fenton's Speech.
W. D. Kenton spoke next and re
ferred to the addresses of former
speakers, saying sentiment often drives
a democracy to do things which it re
grets.' "I venture to say we are living in a
highly emotional era," said he. "While
the statement that this is a highly com
mercial age is partly true, this Is the
most sentimental age in the world's history-
The schemes of government are
apparently made only to be broken. We
have today an ambulatory constitution
which sits on the head of him who sees
fit to wear it. With our frequent recalls
of the man who Is sent to face the peo
ple, there is no fear that ho will forget
his master. What sensible business man
will constitute a Legislature of 100,000
people without executive committees?
The newspapers are the only salvation in
such case.
"The fact that the sentiment and judg
ment of the average man is nearly al
ways right is the reason that the initia
tive and referendum has done no great
f
(Concludsd on Page 11.)