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10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1907.
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PORTLAND, FRIDAY, DEC. 20, 1907.
NOT REPRESENTATIVE.
All party nominations for office must
bo made under the primary law. It
is the only legal proceeding. For this
reason It will be adhered to, for the
present. But it Is not a representative
system.
" Political bossism had made the old
convention system unrepresentative.
That was because bosses were allowed
to take and to hold control. It was
remediable; but the public mind
turned to the method of the primary
law. The primary nomination law
upset bossism, but has not substituted
for it a representative system. ' It has,
on the contrary. Introduced a system
loss representative than the former
one, and therefore productive of
greater dissatisfaction.
It has introduced unusual strife, and
destructive strife, for nominations. A
small proportion or percentage of vot
ers, constituting a limited plurality,
get the nominees. Then because the
nominees are not representative
at all, the majority of the mem
bers of the party refuse to vote
for them. Under the old system there
was a pretense, at least, that the nom
inations made by a convention were
representative. Under the present
system there can .be not even a pre
tense that those who are nominated
by pluralities consisting of very small
percentages of the vote are representa
tive at all.
The Oregonian states its views, it
states the truth, merely as a looker on
in politics. The primary law is not a
representative system, and does not se
cure representative nominations. It
falls short of a representative system
even further than did the old boss and
machine method of making nomina
tions. This Is not delivered' under the Im
pression that It will have or can have
any effect on present conditions. The
primary law has been established, it
Is In force, and It will stand. But the
pretense that It Introduces and estab
lishes the representative system In
making nominations is a delusion, and
the result Is merely a farce. Govern
ment through party Is not possible un
der our primary law, ' nor Is mainte
nance of parties possible , under It
The masses of a, party, having votJ
against a man for the nomination, are
not going to vote for him at an elec
tion. What then? Just look the truth
fairly in the face, speak It without fear
or favor, don't worry, and- let things
take their course. Only, for the pres
ent, away with the delusive idea that
the primary election. law will or can
secure representative nominations.
The primary law, not permitting rep
resentative methods, breaks party up
Into factions. Already this Is the dem
onstrated result in Oregon, and It will
surely follow this line more and more.
Under It an election becomes a gen
eral melee with nothing but personal
contention in It and with no principle
behind it. .,
PASSING OF THE SCALPER.
A decision was recently handed
down by the Supreme' Court of the
United States by which the practice
known as the "scalping" of railroad
tickets is 'declared unlawful. By this
decision, from which there la no ap
peal, legal action against each indi
vidual offender in this line is unneces
sary. The practice Itself Is outlawed
and has no standing whatever In the
business world. .
This ends what is generally conced
ed to have been one of the most per
sistent, vigorous,' eVen viciously-fought
legal battles In the history of Ameri
can transportation. As estimated by
the New York Commercial, it is "a
complete and crowning. victory for the
railroad companies and one in which
a vast majority of the public will share
the satisfaction of the railroads."
The temptation to buy a railroad
ticket at a reduced rate, by means of
an opportunity that was without the
indorsement of a keen and exact sense
of justice, ha3 been great; that many
have yielded to this temptation to
"beat the railroad" is witnessed in the
enormous proportions to which the
scalper's business has ' attained
throughout the country.' Beaterf to a
standstill, the scalpers will now be
forced to abandon their vocation and
the transportation business of, the
country will be freed from a parasite
that has, been fastened upon its vitals
its passenger receipts for years.
Against the complaint of legislative
discrimination, loudly voiced by rail--road
corporations in recent months,
accompanied by thinly veiled threats
at i retaliation, this judicial decision
stands out boldly. Together with the
relief afforded by the abolishment of
passes, it should go far as a recom
pense for loss sustained through the
2-cent-per-mIle passenger rate fixed
by a number of State Legislatures.
More- than thl3. It discredits, as with
out foundation in fact, the assumption
that the judiciary of the country is
disposed ' to join In the prevailing
clamor against the railroads.
WHY COAL MINERS DIB.
It would hardly be in accordance
with the facts to say that the people of
the United States were "shocked" yes
terday at the news of another terrible .
mining disaster In which several hun
dred lives have been snuffed out. Dis
asters of this nature have come on us
with such frequency that they have in
a degree lost their power to create a
shock, except perhaps In the immedi
ate vicinity of the tragedy. When
death rides on the wintry gales, and
gathers In the aged and Infirm who
have lived out .their allotted span of
years, we philosophically accept the
decree as one of the benign workings
of Providence. Apparently, by the
same line of reasoning, we have come
to regard these wholesale harvests of
death In a similar light. 'This at least
would seem to offer some explanation
for the lack of interest In and absence
of laws , to prevent such wholesale
tragedies as plunge entire communities
into mourning and leave behind them
a wake of distress and sorrow which
for thousands will find no allegation
in this life.
By a strange coincidence there ap
peared, almost simultaneously with the
news of the latest Pennslyvanla horror,
a report on coal mining disasters,
which was prepared by experts em
ployed by the Interior Department.
This report, while placing no blame on
any one In particular, was a cerrible
arraignment of the system which ad
mits of the fearful sacrifice, of human
life. There was a . time whea- the
tiarth was younger, and the finer in
stincts of humanity had not been com
pletely subjugated by the craving for
money that such a value wn pVice-I
on life that no precaution was consid
ered too expensive to use in prevent
ing death. That this anctint belief
has not been abandoned in other coun
tries finds ample evidence Irt official
ftatistics, which show that "he coal
mines of thi United States kill three
times as many men per thousand em-,
ployes as are killed by the mines of
European countries.
Not only is the death rate per thou
sand In this country three times as
large as It is in Europe, but it is in
creasing at an alarming rate, while
that of Europe is actually decreasing,
in spite ,of the gr,eatly Increased output
from the mines in Europe. This de
crease is said to be due to the effect of
mining legislation in those countries
for the safeguarding and protection of
the lives of the workmen. The Gov
ernment report, which was written be
fore either the Alabama disaster or the
Monogah disaster, prophetically says:
- Both the number and seriousness oC-mlne
explosions may be expected to Increase, un
less, through investigations such as have
proved effective In other coal-producing coun
tries, information can be obtained and pub
lished concerning the explosives used, the
conditions under which they .may De used
safely, and the general conditions which
make for health 'and safety: Sueh Informa
tion may serve as an Intelligent basla for
legislative enactment and' - for agreements,
among persons associated with mining oper
ations. , f
It Is absurd for a country so far
progressed in arts, science and Inven
tion as the United States to set up the
plea that coal mining cannot be made
as safe in this country as it is In Eu
rope. None, in fact, attempt to make'
such a plea. It is simply a case of
coining the life blood of miners into
dollars through neglect to -employ
proper precautions which, would add
an infinitesimal fraction to the cost per
ton of mining coal. , Our railroads,
like our coal mines, also have the un
enviable reputation of killing more men
In proportion to the number employed
than are killed on any other roads in
the world. ' That'thi3 Is also a needless
sacrifice of human life is shown by the
results achieved on the Union Pacific,
which has spent $2,000,000 in Installa
tion of safety devices, and as a result
finds a decrease In the list of killed
and injured from 2097 in 1896 to 1209
In 1807.
In the mad rush' Xor wealth in this
country our coal barons as well as
other industrial masters have wofully
cheapened human life, the most pre
cious sof all things. If the long-overdue
reform can be accomplished in
no other -way, some of our missionary
societies should temporarily abandon
their crusades, in. behalf of the. foreign
heathen and work for the salvation of
the honest workmen who are being
murdered by thousands at home.
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.
' The business' of the. postal depart
ment, through th6 rural free delivery
service, as shown by the recent report
of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General, has grown to enormous pro
portions. It is gratifying to note that
in this branch of the public service the
appropriations made by Congress are
fully equal to the demand, since, while
extensions have continued during the
fiscal year covered by the report, there
has been a marked decline In the re
quests for new service.
As shown by this report, there were
at the close of the fiscal year 1907 a
total of 37,728 rural delivery routes in
operation served -by 87,582 carriers.
On 689 of these routes the service is
trl-weekly. On nearly all of the re
mainder there Is a daily delivery. In
cident to this service 3076 postoffices
were discontinued during the year,
their patrons being served by rural
carriers.
The convenience of allowing the es
tablishment of rural free mail delivery
Is Incalculable, as is also the growth in
Individual interest In the wider affairs
of the world induced by it. The cost
of the service is, relatively speaking,
not great. The pay of the carriers for
the current fiscal year will amount to
$33,793,218. The service Is the un
grudged tribute of the Government to
the intelligent people of the "rural dis
tricts, who, while pursuing .the daily
routine of their.industrial lives, are en
abled by this means to keep In touch
with current events without neglecting
their work.-
Those who have suffered the depri
vations incident td a" stinted . postal
service, as In pioneer times, perhaps
appreciate more than those who are
accustomed to a daily mail service
through the nearest postoffice the con
venience'; and satisfaction that result
from rural free mail delivery. ' Inher
ited conditions, whether of wealth, po
sition or civilization, are not prized as
are those which follow individual ef
fort and privation. The plowman who;
coming In from the field at noon, sees
the. tiny flag In an upright position on
his mail box, showing that his dally
paper awaits . his leisure, can hardly
appreciate the difference between his
time- and that of his father who. If he
would enjoy his weekly newspaper on
Sunday, must ride or walk some miles
to the postoffice to get It after the
week's work was done.
'"BEATING THE ROPE."
The public has probably read with
the passing attention which It gives to
such matters that the Supreme Court
of Oregon has discovered '.'error" In
the Circuit Court proceedings by which
George L. Blodgett was convicted of
murder in the first degree, and has or
dered a new trial for him. The case
Is of more than passing interest be
cause it is "one of those where, al
though there is not a scintilla of doubt
of. the prisoner's guilt, and although
his trial was admittedly fair in every
important particular, nevertheless the
higher court reverses the verdict of
the lower on a point purely technical
and gives Blodgett another .chance for
his life. " Before his trial took place
BlodgeA confessed his guilt to the Dis
trict Attorney In the presence of three
witnesses and he made the confes
sion after he had been told that It '
would be used against him at his trial.
It may be assumed, therefore, that
whatever he said against himself was
true. It may not be unprofitable to
recall some fragments of this confes
sionjn order that the public may see
clearly what kind of a man it is who
has been rescued from the gallows by
the technical skill of our court of last
resort,
Blodgett is a man between 40 and
50 years of age, who has always made
his living by running dives of. one sort
or another. Sometimes he has owned
a saloon, sometimes a dancehall; but
there is .no reason to believe that he
has ever done a stroke of honest work
in his life, or that he has ever earned
a dollar except as the wages of vice.
The woman, Alice Minthorne, whom
he murdered, was some kind of an
actress." He began to cohabit with her
at Kalispell, deserting his" lawful wife
and children for that purpose. After
a time the pair separated and the
woman saw nothing more of Blodgett
until he sent her a letter Inviting her
to rejoin him, which 'he did, and
thenceforward the couple kept up
more or less of a vicious connection
until the murder took place. Natural
ly their life together was one of re
crimination, quarreling and threats.
On more than one occasion, it appears,
Blodgett declared he would kill the
wretched creature with whom he co
habited, and finallyTie made good his
threats. One morning he told a' lewd
companion of his that he was going td
the woman's room to invite her to take
a drink with him, and if she refused
he Intended to kill her. She refused
and' he did kill her. He shot five bul
lets, into her, body from a Colt's re
volver, four of them while she was
begging him not to murder her, and
all of them either While she was help
less ,in bed or writhing in her death
agony on the floor. All these facts
Blodgett confessed of his own free
will, knowing that they would be used
against him on his trial. That Is the
kind of a man he was and is. His
defense was that he was insane when
he shot the woman, the insanity being
caused by prolonged drunkenness.
In his address to the jury at the trial
of Blodgett the District Attorney ridi
culed the plea of. insanity and cited
the jury to- other notorious murders
where the same plea might have been
advanced but was not; drawing the In
ference that if those murderers were
hanged, much more should such an
abandoned scoundrel as Blodgett suffer
the same fate. The Supreme Court
holds that the lower court should not
have permitted such remarks to be
made because neither -those other mur
ders nor Blodgett's character were
part of the evidence. And because the
trial court permitted the District At
torney to say what he did, the defend
ant was deprived of his just rights and
must have a new trial. Doubtless this
is excellent law, but to the lay mind
it is sufficiently amazing. The Supreme
Court admits that Blodgett's confes
sion was perfectly legitimate evidence;
and that confession is one continued
revelation of Blodgett's depraved char
acter. The. .District Attorney could
have said nothing-vworse about the
wretch than he had said about himself.
It is 'still more amazing to think that
a man may by drunkenness and vice
bring himself into a fit of murderous
passion, actually commit a hideous
nurder while in such a fit, and then
offer his own quintessence of deprav
ity as' a defense for his crime, under
the specious name of Insanity. The
Supreme Court plainly suggests that
perhaps this unspeakable villain was
truly insane when he shot his misera
ble dependent. '
More specifically, this is the argu
ment of the court: insanity produced
by hard drinking is a legitimate de
fense. There was some evidence of
fered that Blodgett was thus Insane,
and the Jury might have believed it If
the District Attorney had not ridiculed
it by bringing up other murders.
Hence the trial Judge erred in allow
ing the District Attorney to comment
on those murders. This, together
with what was said to the Jury about
Blodgett's character, are the grounds
for reversing the judgment and or
dering a new trial. Of course nobody
can tell how the new-trial will turn
but. Blodgett himself expects that he
will now "beat the rope,", and from
what we know of such matters he is
probably -right. As a rule second trials
are largely, farcical, though, that is not
always true '. -
If there were the slightest doubt of
Blodgett's guilt the public would ac
cept the reversal of the trial court
with equanimity-. Of course the main
thing is to reach a just verdict, and no
expenditure of time and labor is too
great if that end is secured. But in
this case justice had already been at
tained by the judgment which the
higher court overturns, and the prin
cipal if not the sole effect of the de
cision is to jeopardize justice and the
welfare of society for a purely techni
cal reason. The court Itself raises no
doubt of Blodgett's substantial guilt.
It only questions whether or not his
vices had not made him insane. Even
if they had, what of it? Who better
deserves the gallows than a man who
has made himself a hienaee to society
by destroying his own mind?
Despite the tendency in the minds
of most juveniles to place the circus
man on a pedestal far above that on
which all other kings of the earth are
resting, the profession has 'not yet been
elevated to a very high rank. But the
life of Gus Ringling, head of the fa
mous family of brothers who control
practically all of the large circuses in
the United States, presents certain
features that are worthy of emulation.
One in particular was his steadfast
and unswerving adherence to the line
of effort which he took up while still
a boy. There has been no division of
energy or talent in the Ringling fam
ily. The" circus business received all
their attention alf the time from the
days when Ringling's show traveled In
one wagon until it developed Into an
enterprise employing thousands of
people and representing millions In
capital. History has always given
prominent place to the leaders in any
profession, and among the great show
men who have appeared on earth up
to the present time the name of Ring
ling will be prominent.
A Democratic paper that has a
habit of "poking It3 nose in" makes
this statement:
In 1886 The Oregonian supported the Dem
ocratic candidate for State Treasurer, George
W. Webb, who was elected for the reason
that the Republican candidate, Mr. Marston,
had 'when a member of the Legislature voted
for Mitchell for Senator. Yet that paper
rails at Republicans for ever voting for a
Democrat.
That was not the only reason why
The Oregonian opposed Marston, but
that reason alone .would have been
good enough. The Oregonian . then
knew-and long had known that Mitch
ell was addicted to corrupt and crim
inal practices, like those of which long
afterwards he was convicted. The
Oregonian doesn't wish to be harping
always n this, unpleasant subject.
But. the friends and supporters and
apologists of the late Senator might
well drop It.
The Yaduis are again reducing the
population of Mexico, their last report
ed sortie resulting In twelve killed and
a number wounded. Perhaps the
strangest feature in connection with
the disgraceful massacres Is the no
ticeable absence 'of any fatalities
among the Indians who commit the
deviltries. The mystery surrounding
the movements of these red devils is
almost as great as that which hides
the reasons for ; non-interference with
their operations by troops. It would
seem as though the 'depredations had
reached a stage where a halt should
be called, even if a great international
Indian hunt had to be organized.
The St. Louis brewerymen have
made a proper move toward counter
acting anti-saloon sentiment by refus
ing to sell beer to any saloon guilty of
violating the law. In some cases this
belated recognition 66 the cause for so
much hostility toward saloons will be
locking the stable door after the horse
has been stolen, but if the policy of the
St. Louis brewers is generally adopted
by the respectable element In the
liquor trade the most powerful weapon
in the hands -of the prohibitionists will
be removed.
Judge James A. Waymire, well
known in Oregon in the early time,
but for many years past a resident of
California, is in hard financial luck.
He was quite wealthy a while ago, but
invested heavily in unremunerative en
terprises, and has lost everything. His
wife was a Yamhill girl. Waymire be
gan as a schoolteacher and stenogra
pher. He became -private secretary to
Governor Gibbs, of Oregon, in 1863,
and studied law. About 1867 he went
to California.
J. Hamilton Lewis favors Hughes
for the reason that the New York chief
executive has "given to a certain style
of whiskers official .status." There is,
of course', a similarity in the facial
adornment of Hughes and Lewis, but
the Hon. J. Ham should not forget
that, while it was whiskers of a pe
culiar curl and hue that made him fa
mous, "it was Hughes that made the
whiskers famous.
The man out of a job who is de
pendent on a brief "ad" in the "help
wanted" column for assistance In find
ing it can realize what a tremendous
advantage Mr. Hamilton has in that
line. Communications, news Items and
editorials relating to Mr. Hamilton's
quest for a job have already run into
columns, and the end -is not yet. It
will certainly be an elusive Job that
escapes him.
It is eminently fitting that the brew
ing interests which found it immensely
profitable in the past to multiply sa
loons Irrespective of the keeper's char
acter, should now seek to repair the
damage by trying to eliminate the
dives, deadfalls, thieves dens and dis
orderly resorts.
College and high Bchool debating
teams are now at the center of atten
lton in the educational world. The
forensic contests are even more im
portant In the making of useful citi
zens' than are the football and basket
ball games. In which so much interest
13 felt.
' The Supreme Court has decided
against Mr. Hume in his suit for ex
clusive control of Rogue River fish
eries. Mr. Hume has the usual twenty
days In which to ask for rehearing and
an Indefinite period thereafter In
which to "cuss" the court.
State Treasurer Steel says he Is not
worrying about his new bond, as his
friends are looking after that for him.
Wasn't it his most immediate friend
that got him into all this trouble?
Tennessee Republicans favor Taft.
This attitude would Interest .him far
more if that state could match votes
in the Chicago convention with vote3
in the electoral college.
Whatever the friction between Mr.
Cortelyou and the President, George B.
is certain of hearty personal support
from the Secretary of the -Treasury.
Away out Wrest an opinion prevails
among Republicans that Mr. Cortel
you's hat is several sizes too small.
BEGINS SUIT TO BREAK WILL
Sister of Polk County Pioneer Wants
Estate He Left to Benefactress.
HILLSBORO, Of.. Dec. 19. -(Special.)
Mrs. Rebecca Tongue, wife of the
late Anthony Tongue, and mother of
the late Congressman T. H. Tongue,
has filed suit in Probate Court, asking
that the will of her late brotner.
Thomas Otchin, who died about a year
ago. be set aside, and that she be al
lowed to participate In the division of
property, which amounts to about $30.
000. Thomas Otchin came to Oregon in
1839, under the employ of the Hudson
Bay Company, and for many years was
head dairyman for that concern. In
1842 he took up a donation land claim
five miles north of this itty, and was
one of the many thus favored, to keep
the land until his death. By Industry
and frugality he acquired considerable
wealth, and after his death it was
found that he had devised the bulk of
his property to Miss Mary Ann Simpson,
who had cared for the diseased many
years, while he was suffering from a
hip trouble that compelled him to be
on crutches and later to abandon walk
ing. The will gave Miss Simpson prac
tically all of his personal property, the
Otchin home in Hillsboro, and the best
part of the original donation. Some of
his heirs in England were given a small
share and 100 acres went to the heirs
of the late Congressman Tongue. The
sister and petitioner was left no part of
the estate.
Mlas Simpson was ready to visit Eng
land and intended starting this month,
but the filing of the suit caused her to
abandon the trip.
DESERTER'S IIEAvY SENTENCE
Convicted Eight Times for Deser
tion, He Must Do Hard Labor.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS, Dec. 19.
(Special.) In the last regular sessions
of the courtmartials throughout the De
partment of the Columbia, three sol
diers were convicted of crime and sen
tenced to Alcatraz Island.
Bert R. Buck, Fourteenth Cavalry,
charged with dissertion, was convicted
and sentenced to be dishonorably dis
charged, to forfeit all pay and allow
ances and to be confined at hard labor
for two and one-half years. In passing
sentence, the court mentioned that the
apparent heavy penalty was a result
of seven previous convictions of the
prisoner, which were considered in
passing the sentence.
Elmer B. Martin, Fourth Artillery, was
convicted of being absent from Vancou
ver Barracks without leave. He was
sentenced to be dishonorably discharged,
to forfeit all pay and allowances and to
be confined at hard labor for three
months.
William C. Flee.ton was convicted of
simple larceny and was sentenced to
serve one month at hard labor.
STOCKMEX ELECT OFFICERS
Convention -Also Indorses Alaska
Yukon Exposition.
SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 19. (Special.)
At the closing session of the Washington
Livestock Association today, a resolution
was passed indorsing the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition, and the management
of the fair was asked to appoint John L.
Smith, of Spokane, superintendent of the
livestock department.
The following officers were eleqted:
President, A. J. Splawn, North Yakima;
vice-president, E. F. Benson, Prosser;
treasurer, F. M. Rothrock. Spokane; sec
retary, F. H. Gholke.
The following are the members of the
executive committee: William Dullng,
Garfield; Peter McGreggor. Colfax; C. C.
Churchill, EUensburg; Mordo McDonald,
Walla Walla; Dr. S. B. Nelson. Pullman;
Paul Clagstone, Clagstone. Idaho, and O.
C. Canfleld, Whitebird, Idaho.
It was resolved to increase the mem
bership of the state organization until the
list reached 1000. The executive commit
tee will meet at Walla Walla January 3,
to organize an auxiliary association.
GLEIfDALE BANK TO REOPEN
Receiver Appointed Tuesday Is Dis
charged Depositors Confident.
GLEN DALE, Or., Dec 19. The Glendaie
State Bank will open its doors tomorrow
morning, and is now ready to meet every
demand of its depositors, notwithstand
ing reports which have been sent out that
this institution had gone under. The
bank was closed this week, not because
of any run on it, but In order to give it
an opportunity to get in condition to
meet demands, if any should be made,
with cash. The utmost'eonfidence Is felt
by the Business men and large depositors
here in the strength of the bank. The
reason for the bank officials taking the
step they did, was that the recent fire in
the banking rooms, had set all kinds of
rumors afloat, and the directors wished
to be prepared in case a panic should en
sue. The receiver appointed at Rose
burg has been discharged. The institu
tion has obtained, money to pay all de
positors, If necessary. The receivership
was only a temporary expedient.
BEQtTEST WITH STRING TO IT
Son Must Abstain From Tobacco
Till 21, If He Expects $500".
SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 19. (Special.)
On condition that he abstain from the
use of -tobacco in any form until he at
tains the age of 21 years, Vance Albert
Wolverton, son of A. P. Wolverton,
formerly of this city, will receive at his
majority the sum of $500 from his father's
estate.
The will of A. P. Wolverton, a.ploneer,
of Spokane, who for years was engaged
In the real estate business in this city,
was filed for probate this morning. Sev
eral codicils to the original will were
executed in California, where Mr.
Wolverton died.
A niece of the deceased, Mrs. Rera Tuf
ford, of Portland, Is given the sum of
$500, and another niece, Irene Wolverton,
Is bequeathed $300.
Grass Specialist at Monmouth.
MONMOUTH, Or., Dec. 19. (Special.)
W. J. Spiilman, Government agrostologist
from Washington, D. C, spent yesterday
evening "and a part of today in Mon
mouth. While here Mr. Spiilman visited
the stock farms of J. B. Stump and
others, and last evening was given an in
formal reception at the Normal School
chapel, where a large number of friends
renewed acquaintances formed some 13
years ago when he was a member of the
State Normal School faculty. Since leav
ing the Pacific Coast, Mr. Spiilman has
developed his scientific reserch, until now
at the head of one of the co-ordinant
departments under Secretary of Agricul
ture Wilson his work is taking the widest
scope and is being recognized by the
scientific world In agricultural pursuits.
Calvin Heilig Granted Divorce.
'HILLSBORO, Or., Dec 19. (Special.)
Calvin Heilig, the Portland theatrical
manager, was granted a divorce by Judge
McBride. in this city, this week. The
findings of fact set forth that plaintiff
and Mrs. Ella Heilig were married In
Hillsboro, Or., November 6. 1906, and that
two days later she deserted the husband,
and has since .that time resided in Ta
coma. Mr. and Mrs. Heilig had been
married and divorced prior to their last
marriage. The property rights were
settled out of court. There are no chil
dren. The complaint charged simple de
sertion and refusal to live with plaintiff.
HEAVY DOCKET IN KLAMATH
Court Business' Piled l'p During
fRecent Holidays.
KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Dec. 19. (Spe
cial.) Judge H; L. Bens'on has ordered a
special term of Circuit Court to convene
at Klamath Falls, January 6, 1908, for
transaction of business with relation to
41 suits in equity and actions at law.
This is the entire number of cases on
the docket of the court and includes a
number of long s'taniiing. The regular
venire of jurors drawn for the regular
term of court last month were discharged
owing to doubt as to legality of their
having been called during the proclama
tion holidays. An entirely new venire
will follow for the approaching special
term.
Conclusion of the legal holidays caused
no unusual commotion in Klamath County
aside from the filing of a great number
of cases and legal documents with the
clerk of the court and County Clerk. Tho
banks in tills county have gone steadily
forward conducting business in the
regular way Irrespective of the proclama
tions of the Governor, though posting
notices of the Clearlng-House Associa
tions as a matter of information to their
depositors. The reserve in all Klamath
County banks is very high, as compared
with the amount of deposits received.
SLATED FOR LAND OFFICE JOB
Frank C. Bramwell Recommended
for Register at La Grande.
LA GRANDE. Or., Dec. 19. (Special.)
Frank C. Bramwell, who has been recom
mended by the Oregon delegation for the
position of Register of the United States
Land Office at this place, was born at
Plaine City, Utah. December 21, 1SSL
He attended Brigham Young College at
Logan, Utah, for a period of three years.
After he left college, he went with his
parents to St. Anthony, Idaho, where ne
resided until the Fall of 1S99, when he
came to Baker City, Or. He came to
Grande in May, 1SCO. For a year and a
half he was in the employ of the Far
mers and Traders National Bank of this
city as teller and bookkeeper. In July,
1904, he was appointed Deputy County
Clerk of this county, which position he
holds at the present time. In February,
1903, he was married to Miss Jennie B.
Stoddard, of Logan, Utah. They have"
two children.
Mr. Bramwell is a man of excellent
clerical ability and has the reputation of
being one of the most efficient Deputy
County Clerks this county has ever had.
TEACH CHILDREN TO GAMBLE
Wheel of Fortune Pays Caramels in
Penny Arcade.
TACOMA. Wash., Dec. 19. (Special.)
For conducting a wheel of fortune in a
penny arcade, where children were al
lowed to play money In the hope of
winning a box of candy. J. Sweeney,
one of the proprietors, was arrested to
day charged with gambling.
Tho youngsters paid 6 cents for the
privilege of turning the wheel and re
ceived In exchange three . numbers.
Should the wheel stop on any of these
numbers they got a box of candy worth
about -0 cents. By giving every one
who played the wheel a single caramel
the owners thought they were circum
venting the law, it is claimed.
The wheel of fortune has been con
fiscated. A penny machine showing
obscene pictures was ordered removed
from the place.
Injunction in Election Contest.
-ASTORIA, Or., Dec. 19. (Special.) The
plaintiff in the Injunction, suit of A. E.
Miller vs. W. E. Butke, Auditor of Sea
side, H. C. Anderson and E.' S. Hennin
ger, filed a bond in the sum of $200 and
the temporary Injunction, as prayed for.
was granted by County Judge Trenchard.
The suit was brought to restrain Burke
from issuing' certificates of election to
Anderson and Henninger and to restrain
the latter two from assuming municipal
offices to which they were recently elect
ed. It Is said. , however, that before the
injunction was granted the certificates
had been issued.
Schooner Total Loss.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 19. (Special:)
Fred Hart, secretary and' treasurer of
the Hartwood Mill Company, w;hich con
cern purchased the schooner Solano, toT
night received a dispatch from Captain
Stream confirming the report of the
total loss of the vessel. The Hartwood
Mill Company Is out between $5000 and
$10,000 on the vessel, and Captain Stream
was promised an additional $5000 if he
succeeded in getting the Solano off the
beach.
Passengers Feared Holdup.
SALEM, Or., Dec. 19. The Southern Pa
cific Cottage Grove passenger train, south
bound, was flagged and boarded by a
gang of tramp? a short distance out of
Woodburn yesterday evening ,and it was
fully 15 minutes before the crew was able
to fight them off and get the train under
headway again.
Panic reigned among the passengers,
who mlstosk the excitement for a hold-up.
Search for Wreck Survivors.
VICTORIA, B. C, Dec. 19. H. M. S.
Shearwater may be ordered to the South
American coast from Esquimau to search
Islands off chile for possible survivors of
the crew of the mlstfng Liverpool ship
Silberhorn. which was reported having
burned at sea August 23, about 90 miles
off the Chilean coast. There are slim
hopes that survivors may have reached
islands off Chile.
Convict Falls to His Death.
WALLA WALLA, Wash... Dec. 19.
Archie Mitchell, a convict, fell from the
top of the new prison hospital building
yesterday morning, sustaining Injuries
from which he died this evening. He was
sent up from eTacoma a month ago and
was 40 years old. He was carrying brick
when he slipped and fell. Little is known
of his crime or history at the- peniten
tiary. Will Spend Holidays at Home.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene,
Dec. 19. (Special.) Vacation for the
Christmas holidays begins tomorrow and
continues until January 5. The railroads
have granted reduced fares for students,
and most of them will take advantage of
the' offer, to spend the holidays with
horaefolks and friends.
Crippled by His Own Gun.
ROSEBURG, Or.", Dec. 19. Charles H.
Smythe, of Oakland, accidentally shot
himself in the thigh while hunting near
that town yesterday afternoon. He lay
in the cold rain almost four hours and
was nearly dead when found. Dr. Page,
of Oakland, says recovery is possible, al
though Smythe will be left a cripple.
Burglary at Grants Pass.
GRANTS PASS. Or., Dec. 19.-(Special.)
Burglars entered the Banks Restaurant
and Lodging-house last night, ransacked
the building and carried away several
valuable articles of clothing belonging to
the occupants.
Clears With Lumber Cargo.
ASTORIA."' Or., Dec. 19. (Special.) The
schooner John A. Campbell cleared at the
Custom House today for San Pedro with
a cargo of 550,000 feet of lumber, loaded
at the Tongue Point- Lumber Company's
mill.
lTHKOUSgiOLDW
BY LILIAN TINGLE.
ON one of the large department stores
In this city there is a green mailbox
that has nothing to do with Uncle Sum
and the ordinary postal regulations or
officials. It has no little printed notice
of the hours of collection on week days
and holidays, but a large placard which
reads, "Santa Claus' letter-box. Do not
put any mall lu this box except for San
ta Claus." And does lie get a heavy
mail? Indeed he does, in spite of the
fact that he attends every day in person,
from 2 to 4 o'clock, in order ,to receive
communications from those of his. young
friends who have not yet learned to
write. They call him up over the phone,
too, for Santa Claus is quite willing to
make use of modprn inventions, in the
way of business, and it is chiefly affec
tion for his faithful reindeer that keeps
him from traveling always by automobile
or airship; though as a matter of fact
those same reindeer are much more swift
and satisfactory than either o tlicir
modern rivals. v.
A few days ago a little boy called him
up with a lengthy request which included
"a garden set, ah' a toolchest, an' a
train of cars, an' a rocking-norse, an' a .
gun, an" a gocart, an' a Teddy bear, an'
a automobile."
"What horsepower automobile?" inter
rupted Santa's stenographer (of course,
he has one; he hu3 to, with all his cor
respondence). "I dunno what a horsepower is." said
the ' youngster, "but I want the biggest
they is." Nothing small about that boy.
While piles of letters are daily placed
in the mailbox, many more come through
the regular mail, directed in care of the
firm with whom this Santa is at present
collaborating. Many of them bear no ad
dress and only . the first name of the
sender, who has completo trust in me
good Saint's memory for all the rest;
but unfortunately the postal authorities
and Santa's other helpers are such
stupid, though well'meaning people that
only those letters are answered which
tell exactly where the writer lives. All
such letters are answered, however. Pic
ture postals with a good portrait of San
ta In his auto are sent to every address
given, even though for various reasons
It may be impossible to grant every re
quest. What do they ask for? Most
of the girls want dolls or doll clothes
and dishes; the boys usually ask for
guns, drums, trains of cars and auto
mobiles; and botli sexes make tremend
ous demands for Teddy bears and candy,
e
Here are a few specimen letters:
Dear Old Santa: I, have been a very good,
boy all year. I will ttU you what 1 want.
1 want a passenger train and a water pistol
and a boat. My !ter wants a doll as biff
as a baby. My father wants some cuff but
tlns and very pretty ones too. My mother
wants some shoes, the sleze' she wants is No.
4. I remain as ever your loving friend
Karl.
Here is another good boy, but evi
der.tly one with more ego in his cosmos:
Dear Santa: 1 WTOte to you to tell you
what for Christmas, and I have been a good
boy the year around. I want a prenting prees
and a punching buff and a foot ball and a
llttlo attomobobille with ruber tires with two
seats in the front and two in the back and
a little fire wagon and the huking lader ami
the hose cart. A little trislcle tow and if you
have plenty you may send me a nice han-car
two. Lloyd.
And he pastes his picture on the letter
in order to avoid any possible mistake.
Tills little girl is more modest in her
desires:
Dear Santa Claus: I want a wash tub and
ringer and clote pin. from your friend Ade
laide. Here is another easily satisfied little
mortal:
Dear Santa Clause: I thought I would
write and tell you what 1 want for Christ
mas. I want a big teddy bear. I am only
1 yeans old. that is al I want for Chrlst
mua. ' Your freud Edith.
One thoughtful little girl says: .
Don't feet scared and run if Papa snores
the night thut you come he does that every
night and he won't hurt you.
Another says: ,
1 will leave ths door oupen tor I have no
fire-place and . 1 want you to till my teddy
bears stockings to and All them plum full
with candy and nuts and all good thing.
One with a thought for the reindeer,
concludes hopefully:
I think there it going to be some snow
before long. .
Last year there was another small per
son, newly come to Portland from a
colder climate, who watched tho weather
anxiously as Christmas drew near. One
pouring wet day she looked out on the
flowing gutters and . quick-forming pud
dles until horrible doubts assailed her,
and turning a worried face to her mother,
she asked:
"Mama, can Shanta Clautli thwfm?"
Living on a farm In a Middle Western
state there was a dreadfully well-bVought-irp
4-year-old whoso mother had
the Montgomery Ward habit In a marked
form. She spent many happy Hours over
their illustrated catalogues, and tho boy
usually got the old ones for painting
and other purposes. There was to be
"no nonsense" in the education of this
boy, so he knew nothing of Santa Claus
or fairies or anything of that sort, al
though Christinas gifts, in moderation,
were allowed. On Christmas eve instead
of the usual petition for blessings on his
numerous relatives and the making of
himself Into a good little boy, his as
tonished mother listened to the following
extemporaneous prayer: "O. Lord, I'm
awful tired tonight, so jusf bless every
body; and you can look In the catalogue
In my box If you want to know what
I'd like for Christmas because Ive
marked them and you've made me a pret
ty good boy, I think. Amen."
Sunday Will Still Be Bluish.
NEW YORK, Dec. 19. Kven If Mayor
McClellan signs the new. Sunday amuse
ment ordinances as he Is expected to
do. New York's Sundays will be at
least tinged with blue in the future.
Dancing and regular theatrical per
formances will not be allowed, and the
German, Yiddish and French companies
which have been playing on Sunday
nights to crowded houses will be forced
to close. The vaudeville houses will,
in all probability, open next Sunday,
if the ordinance Is signed, but the en
tertainment will consist largely of
vocal and Instrumental music and mov
ing pictures. Ministers have asked the
Mayor to give them one more hearing
before he signs tho ordinance. They
believe that the ordinance allowing
music and lectures of a "sacred or edu
cational" character Is altogether too
broad. '
Coach Chase Remeinhers Scrubs.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene,
Or., Dec. 19. (Special.) While acting as
asrfstanf coach at tho university, Carroll
Chase, Michigan '0.V formed quite a
friendship with the-members of the sec
ond team of which he had charge, and
was presented with a handsome - purse
not long since by them. Tonight, the
coach, by way of appreciation, gave each
varsity "scrub" a handsome stick-pin
with the wording "Oregon Reserve"
thereon,