VOL. XLVI. XO. 14,68 6
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1908.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
DISCUSS DEFENSE
OF PACIFIC COAST
Conference Called by
War Department.
ADJUTANT-GENERALS WILL GO
Oregon, California and Wash
ington Officers Summoned.
START EAST TOMORROW
Manning of Coast Fortifications by
State Reserves to Be Subject of
Council at Washington, Also
That of General Defense. '
Adjutant-Generals of the three Pacific
Coast States Oregon, "Washington and
California have been Invited by the War
Department to go to "Washington, D. C,
for a conference at the earliest possible
date on the subject of coast defense.
Adjutant-General "W. El Finzer, of Ore
gon, and General J. B. Lauck, of Call
fornia, are leaving for the capital tomor
row, while General Otis Hamilton, of
"Washington, will start East Saturday.
The request from the "War Department
for this conference Is regarded as pecu
liarly significant. Indicating the Govern
ment's determination to prepare for any
emergencies that- may arise from the
"West. The principal topic of consider
ation at the conference will be that of
training volunteer coast artillery reserves
to man Oregon. Washington and Califor
nia fortifications. ej The subject of per
fecting the Infantry regiments of the
three states in coast defense operations
will likewise be taken up. It Is assured
that the meeting will result In assignment
of National Guard troops to coast ar
tillery work.. The three Adjutant-Generals
will very likely return with the task
ahead of recruiting new coast companies
for this service.
Problem, Relates to Coast Alone.
General Oliver. Acting Secretary of
War, transmitted the request for a con
ference with the Adjutant-Generals. It
Is understood that the Coast officials
alone are included in the conference with
General Oliver, which Is a fact signifi
cant of the Government's attitude con
cernlng possible need of defending the
west shore at some future date. For
several months past General Oliver has
been in communication with Generals
Finzer, Lauck and Hamilton on the sub
ject of coast defense. Only a few days
ago be submitted memoradum from the
chief of artillery recommending assign
ment of the Oregon troops to Coast de
fense maneuvers In May, as well as the
permanent setting aside of certain in
fantry companies for heavy artillery
training.
This plan was not regarded by the
three Coast Adjutant-Generals as feasi
ble. There appeared to be a disinclina
tion among Infantry commanders to ap
portion their companies for artillery
work. Concerted objection was also made
to the month of May for maneuvers, as It
Is difficult for the average guardsman to
leave bis business or work at that busy
time of the Spring rush. In urging the
Importance of the coast defense work,
General Oliver submitted the following
communication to Governor Chamberlain,
together with memorandum from the
chief of artillery:
Itter to Governor Chamberlain.
I beir to transmit herewith for your con
sideration a memorandum of the Chief of
Artillery with regard to joint Army and
militia coast defense exercises:
It Is of the greatest Importance that as
soon as practicable you should designate the
companies which are to act as the coast
artillery reserve and the Infantry supports,
nd to assign them permanently to those
duties If -practicable; and where this Is not
possible to try to stimulate the Interest of
the citizens In raising the necessary com
panies for the former purpose. As It Is now
the beginning of the drill season. It would
seem to be an especially good time for
laying this matter before the National
Guard of your slate, whenever you are
prepared to take this matter up we shall
be glad to submit the number of companies
required for this work. The department Is
much Impressed with the great value of
the organised militia In connection with
coast defense and hopes to see It successfully
developed as early as It is possible to do so.
Militiamen Readily Handle Guns.
The memorandum which accompanied
this communication, set out the observa
tions made by the Chief of Artillery dur
ing the coast defense maneuvers of last
Summer. At that time the align
ment of guardsmen to Coast artillery
was an experiment. Shortage of men in
the regular Coast service made it neces
sary to find a means of occupying the
various fortifications with sufficient
forces, and this experiment of volunteer
reserves was shown to be successful
coast artillery operations.
Five companies of Oregon infantry, de
tailed to the batteries at the mouth of
the Columbia River made an enviable
record for themselves. Already organ
ized and disciplined, the only requisite
was supplementary practice in handling
the big guns. The men Ml In with this
new work promptly, and Inside of week
guardsmen were operating the finding
and plotting boards, handling the mortar
and all-round-fire batteries, preparing
and placing submarine mines and engag
ing in all the other intricate details of
coast artillery operation. --
The experiment caused great satisfac
tion at the War Department, as indicated
in the communication from general
Oliver. A way was paved for establish
ment of a permanent artillery reserve
and the problems of coast defense seemed
easy of solution thereafter.
Government May Defray Expense.
It is known, however, that the War
Department will find It necessary to offer
more than a plan of coa3t defense. The
carrying out of such a plan will be at
tended by more or less expense. That
the states should foot the bills does not
seem just. It is understood that the Gov
ernment will be asked flatly what aid can
be given in the organization of reserves
or the assignment of infantry already or
ganized. The outcome of the conference with the
three Adjutant Generals will be anxiously
awaited in Guard circles . as well as
among artillerymen of the District of the
Columbia. That there will be important
developments through the conference
there can be no doubt, and that the mat
ter of coast defense is regarded by the
Government as one of utmost importance
is made clear.
General Finzer, while admitting' that he
will" leave for Washington tomorrow to
confer with General Oliver, was not In-
W. IS. Finzer, Adjutant-General
Oregon National Guard, Who Has
Been Summoned to Washington.
clined to discuss the matter yesterday.
While Bast he will attend the annual
meeting of directors of the National Rifle
Association. He expects to return In the
course of a month.
BONAPARTE SOON TO BEGIN
SUIT IN OMAHA COURT.
Will Move to' Dissolve Combine of
Union and Southern Pacific
Lines Within Month.
OMAHA. Neb.. Jan. 1. (Special.)
While not officially announced. It Is un
derstood by well-informed persons In
Omaha that Attorney-General Bonaparte
has decided to begin, within a month,
suit In the Federal Court in this city to
dissolve the Union Pacific-Southern Pa
cific combination. Just what date the
suit will be filed Is unknown, but a high
authority today stated that it was ex
pected within the present month.
Special Assistant United States General
Attorney Rush is In the city, but neither
he nor District Attorney Goss has had
any notice of the proposed suit, accord
ing to statements made by either of them
tonight. Mr. Rush said that neither he
nor Mr. Goss would know of It, in the
ordinary course of matters, until a spe
cial messenger of the Attorney-General's
office appears with the papers prepared
to file them in the courts.
REFUSED ACCESS TO BOOKS
List or Policyholders Withheld by
Mutual Reserve Life.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1. A policyhold
ers' committee of the Mutual Reserve
Life Insurance Company, representing
policyholders mostly in Southern States
and with headquarters here, issued to
day an appeal to all policyholders of the
company to furnish the committee with
their names and addresses. The com
mittee declares that it had been refused
permission by the company to copy the
policyholders names from the books.
The committee has employed counsel in
New York, which has appealed to the
Federal courts for a receiver for the Mu
tual, on the ground of insolvency.
FATAL DUEL IN KENTUCKY
Fracas May Cause Further Trouble
in Mining Town.
EW1NGSVILLE. Ky.. Jan. 1. A. J.
Ballard last night engaged in a shotgun
duel with Allie and Boone Henry, broth
ers, at Yale, a mining town. Ballard and
Boone Henry were fatally wounded.
Further trouble Is feared. Ballard par
ticipated 20 years ago in a fight resulting
In the death of two of his brothers and
the wounding of other, men under un
usual circumstances. He had killed Peter
Spencer and on trial was sentenced to
life Imprisonment.
BUYS TELEPHONE SYSTEM
Manitoba Will Try Government
Ownership.
WINNIPEG. Jan. 1. Announcement is
made by the Provincial Government that
the Bell Telephone System in Manitoba
had been purchased by the government.
The price paid was J3.3O9.O00. The govern
ment will assume control on January 15
and the system will be operated by a
commission. x
Famous Oarsman Near Death.
TORONTO. Ont., Jan. 1. Edward
Hanlon, the . famous, oarsman, is very
ill, and his physicians have 8")
doubts of his recovery.
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OLDEST. OREGON
IS
Mrs. Mary Ramsey
Wood Dies at Hillsboro.
AGE PROVED TO BE OVER 120
Remembered Many Statesmen
of Her Day.
JACKSON HER FAVORITE
Staunch Democrat to End Born in
1787 and Crossed Plains In 1852
on Horseback Closely Con
nected With Early History.
MRS. WOOD'S IXFK.
V
Born In -Tennessee In 178T.
Joined Methodist Church In 1T99.
Married In 1804.
Moved to Alabama In- 3837.
Went to Georgia In 1838.
Removed to Missouri In 1849.
Crossed the plains in 1852.
Married Leand Trim In 1S52.
Died January 1,' 1908, aged 120
years 7 months 11 days..
HILLSBORO, Or.. Jan. 1. (Special.)
"Grandma" Mary Ramsey Wood, who
was 120 years old May 20, 1907, died
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.
B. Reynolds, in this city, at 5 o'clock
this morning. The cause of her death
was general debility. Mary Ramsey
Wood was the daughter of a brick
mason, Richard Ramsey, and was born
at Knoxville, Tenn., May 20, 1787. At
the age of 12 years she joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church. She mar
ried Jacob Lemons in 1804, and bore
the following- children: Mary Jane
Lemons, born in 1806, died 1904; Isaac
Lemons, born in 1809, and died 1866;
Mrs. Nancy Lemons Bullock, born
1816 and died 1868; Mrs. Catherine
Reynolds, born 1830, and at whose
home the aged woman has resided for
many years.
Crosses Plains on Horseback.
Mrs. Lemons moved from Tennessee
to Alabama with ber husband In 1837,
and to Georgia in 1838. Lemons
died In 1839. In 1849 she moved to
Missouri. In 1852 she crossed the
plains to Oregon, riding the entire dls
tance on horsback on a - mare she
christened Martha Washington Pioneer.
She settled In Washington County and
on May 28, 1854, she was wedded to
John Wood, who died in the sixties.
Wood built the first frame hotel in
Hillsboro. This was a tavern and sa
loon combined for some time, and Mrs.
Wood frequently tended bar for the
husband when he was otherwise en
gaged. She thought nothing of this, as
it was the custom in those days. She
was descended from English stock, her
MAN
ancestors settling in the Carolinas.
Her mother died at the age of 110.
Remembers Andrew Jackson.
She was a great reader in her prime,
and had many times seen General
Washington, Thomas Jefferson and
other statesmen of her younger days.
Her best recollection, however, as to
public men. seems' to bave been cen
tered on the great Andrew Jackson,
with whom she danced, as a girl, many
times.
Mrs. Wood always took an active
Interest in National politics, and was
an uncompromising Democrat to her
last hours. Andrew Jackson was her
ideal of a statesman. She once said:
"Andy Jackson was the President for
you. He knew how to fight, and he
knew how to make "laws, and, better
yet, he knew how. to enforce them."
Her Age Is Authentic.
There has been some doubt ex
pressed as to the correctness - of her
PROBABLE CHOICE OF OREGON
DELEGATION FOB UNITED
STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
4eoixe G. Bingham, of Ha I em
George Q. Bingham, who ja re
garded as the probable successor of
United States Attorney Bristol,
has been a practicing attorney at
Salem since 1SSO when he was ad
mitted to the bar in Yamhill County.
He is considered one of the leading
lawyers In Marion County, where he
Is prominent both In his profession
and' In politics. Congressman W. R.
Ellis has confirmed the published re
ports that Mr. Bingham is the choice
of himself. Senator Fulton and Con
gresssman Hawley. Senator Bourne,
the fourth member of the Oregon
delegation, continues to support
Christian Schuebel, of Oregon City,
for the appointment.
agre, and Mrs. Reynolds wrote to rela
tives at Warm Springs, Mo., f.sking; for
a record of the family Bible. The
answer was received and the excerpt
gives Mrs. "Wood's age as 120 last
May. This letter, which the Oregon. an
correspondent saw and read, was lost,,
the holder not at that' time (several
years ago) appreciating its importance.
The family moved from Warm Springs
and it has been Impossible again to get
into communication with the writer of
the letter giving the date of , her birth.
Strong Dislike for Hearse.
Her Jacksonian simplicity ruled
strong, even in her last days. It was
her wish that Mrs. Catherine Wehrung,
wife of Pioneer Henry Wehrung,
should line her coffin, and she was
emphatic that her remains should not
be conveyed to her last resting place
in a hoarse.' She said that it was her
wish that she 'be taken to the grave
in a hack or "democrat wagon," as
she called it, and that a quilt must
cover the receptacle .on the way to the
cemetery.
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SEABOARD LINE
NEAR THE ROCKS
Hurried Application
for Receiver.
FINANCED BY THOMAS F. RYAN
Leading Railroad of the South
Staggers Under Debt.
JUDGE HURRIES TO WORK
Carload of Lawyers Pleads With
Judge Prltchard Albright How
Ryan Overloaded the Road "
"With Bonds and Stocks.
THE SEABOARD AIR LINE.
The Seaboard Air Line Railway
Company was formed In 1900 by
the consolidation of the old Seaboard
Air Line, the Georgia & Alabama
and the Florida Central & Penin
sular, and Its roads aggregate 2600
mllej?. The main line runs from
Richmond, Vs.. to Tampa. Fla.. 842
miles via Raleigh. N. C. Columbia,
S. C. ' Savannah. Ga., and Jackson
ville. Fla., and has branches to Nor
folk, Va.. Durham. N. C, Wilming
ton. N. C, Rutherfordton, N. C,
Atlanta, Ga., Chattahoochee, Fla.,
Montgomery. Ala.. Cedar Key, Fla.,
and Lake Charm, Fla. Several con
necting links have been built recent
ly. The company controls a steamer
line between Norfolk and Baltimore
and has a large interest- in the Old
Dominion line.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1. (Special.) Af
fairs of the Seaboard Airline Railroad
Company reached a crisis today and
after a Ion ft conference of the voting
trustees In this city. It was decided to
make application to the court for a
receiver. Word was sent to Richmond,
the headquarters of the company, to
the attorneys there to put the con
Icern In the custody of the courts. Dls
patches from Richmond stated that an
application had been made to Judge
Waddell, but that he referred the at
torneys to Judge Pritchard, whom they
met In Danville, Va., tonight at 11
o'clock.
Directors of the company who were
seen tonight said drastic action of
some sort was necessary and that the
company, which has been a bone of
contention between Northern and
Southern capitalists for nearly three
years, would very likely be thrown Into
the hands of receivers. Many millions
of dollars of securities are Involved.
Cannot Raise Money.
The railroad Is one of the most ex
tensive systems on the Atlantic sea
board, traversing nearly 2600 miles. Its
capitalization and bonded debt exceed
$180,000,000. So far as could be ascer
tained tonight, It appears that pro-
-!
ceedlngs to place the company In the
custody of the courts might have been
averted If the syndicate controlling the
property had advanced the necessary
funds. It Is understood an element of
the board was not willing to make
the necessary advances. Hence the
serious dilemma In which the company
Is placed. There are Interest payments,
which fall due on January 1, and other
obligations to meet within the next
few weeks, all of which have brought
the affairs of the property to a crisis.
The Seaboard Airline Is now domi
nated by a syndicate of bankers, con
sisting of the Blair Interests as repre
sented by Blair & Co., bankers;
Thomas F. Ryan, Norman B. Ream, S.
Davies Warfield, of Baltimore, and T.
Jefferson Coolldge, of Boston. The
stock Is also owned largely by Balti
more and Richmond people.
, Harriman Is After It.
In the recent money stringency; the
company was unable to sell its securi
ties authorized last January, or obtain
funds except at ruinous rates. At one
time there was no market for Its
paper, a situation, however, which
Thomas F. . Ryan, Who Financed
Seaboard Air Line Into Bank
ruptcy. many other companies of better credit
also had to endure.
There are definite rumors that E. H.
Harriman Is trying to get control of
the road and Is using Its present em
barrassment for that purpose.
COTJID JfOT STAVE OFF ACTION
Seaboard Officials Strove to End.
Par Offeree for Coupons.
B jflriMORE, Jan. 1. S. Davios "War
field returned to this city tonight from
New York, but, when seen by a. repre
sentative of the Associated- Press, said
that it would be Inexpedient for him to
make any statement relative to the Sea
board Air Line situation pending the ap
plication for the appointment of receiv
ers. It Is known here that conferences
have been in progress, the outcome of
which might possibly be the staving off
of the receivership, but the Associated
Press dispatch from Richmond Is taken
to indicate "that the conferences alluded
to have not had a favorable outcome.
, In an advertisement which will appear
In tomorrow, morning's papers,. Blair &
Co. and Landenburg,' Thalman & Co., of
New York, offer to purchase the- coupons
maturing today , on a long list of securi
ties of railroads Identified with the, Sea
board Air Line, and also the equipment
bonds of the Seaboard that mature on the
same date, these purchases to be at face
value. The offer holds as to all such
coupons and equipment bonds as may be
presented on or before February 29 at the
Morton Trust Company, New York, or
the Continental Trust Company, this city.
The advertisement states that the offer is
(Concluded on Page 7.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
' The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 43
degrees; minimum, 40.
TODAY'S Rain, southerly winds.
National.
Great crowd at President's New Year re
ception. Page 5.
Bonaparte to move for dissolution of Har
riman merger. Page 1.
Steps taken for protection of American
Consul In Guatemala. Page 3.
Politics.
Taft leads for President -' and . gains
strength. Page 7.
Governor Hushes recommends reform In
banking laws. Page 5.
Negroes of Mobile for third term or Taft.
Page 6. .
Domestic.
New York bank superintendent recommends
drastic reforms. Page 6.
Caleb . Powers' case goes to' Jury today.
Page 5.
Riot in car strike at Muhcle, Ind.; demand
for militia. Page 3.
Application for receiver for Seaboard Air
Line, due to financial crisis. Page 1. - .
Long list of crimes and accidents on New
Year's at Brooklyn. Page .
Two killed and many Injured in explosion
at steel works. Page 3.
Sports.
Attell and Moran fight 23 rounds to a draw.
Page 4.
Multnomah defeats University of St. Louis,
ii to e. page io.
Pacific Coast.
Japanese at Vancouver. B. C, murderously
attack three firemen. Page 1.
Oregon state tax levy tor 1S08 shows In
crease over last year. Page 6.
Oldest woman. In Oregon dies at Hillsboro.
Page 1.
Portland and "Vicinity.
Adjutant-Generals of Oregon. Washington
and California summoned to Washington
by War Department for conference on
defense of coast. Page 1.
John H. Hall flies motion demanding per
mission to see Heney's evidence. Page 14.
W. M. Ladd asks longer period In which
to pay creditors of Title bank. Page 14.
Lower Columbia fishing interests prepare
Initiative bill prohibiting salmon fishing
in upper river. Page 15.
Receiver of Oregon Trust Savings Bank
will make full statement to court.
Page 10.
Senator Fulton comes out for Taft for
President; says Oregon will send solid
- delegation for War Secretary. Page 14.
Glenelven makes record time loading wheat.
Pag 5 15.
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REMEN
OF JAPANESE MOB
Three 'Men Set Upon
at Vancouver, B. C.
SLASHED WITH LONG KNIVES
One Will Die and Others Are
Badly Injured.
ORIENTALS EASY TO ANGER
Canadians Accidentally Break Store
Window and Are Murderously
Assaulted by a Score of En
raged Armed Brown Men.
VANCOUVER. B. C, Jan. 1. (Spe
cial.) Allan Anderson, fireman. Is
dying and two other young men, also
members of the city fire department,
are badly wounded and In the hospital
as the result of a fight they had early
this morning In the Japanese quarter
with an overwhelming number of the
subjects of the Mikado. The fight was
the worst In the city since the Septem
ber riots, and Indicates that the Japa
nese are at all times ready for trouble
and eager to fight with -their long
knives that have blades keen as razors.
Attacked Without Cause.
Anderson, accompanied by J. Frost
and T. McDonald, was passing a Japa
nese store, when Frost stumbled and
fell hard against the plate-glass win
dow front. The glass smashed and the
fragments were still rolling on the
Bidewalk when a score of Japanese ap
peared from the inside and rushed at
the trio of whites. The firemen were
In uniform, with brass buttons and of
ficial caps, but the Japanese knifed
them furiously. .
Within three minutes there were
dozens of Japanese In the fight, all
trying to get at the' white men. . The
latter were borne to the ground and '
cut and slashed until the sidewalk and
front of the store were covered with
blood. The police station is less than
three blocks away, but It was a quar
ter of an hour before armed officers "
arrived at the scene of the fight. Only :
four arrests were made, for nearly all !
the Japanese scattered at the sight of '
the policemen.
Fight Over Prostrate Body.
His two companions thought that
Anderson was dead, and had been
fighting over his prostrate body for1
many minutes before the policemen j
came, Anderson was unconscious. His 1
face was marked with many slashes,
up and down, and from one side to the 1
other. From the back of his ear to his
shoulder was a slit two inches deep '
that had only missed the Jugular vein
by a fraction of an Inch. His body
was stabbed in half a dozen places !
and i( is unlikely he will recover.
The other two men were cut and
bleeding from faces and arms and were I
altogether fearfully beaten. All were
taken to the hospital. Three doctors
worked over them for hours, sewing up
their wounds.
JAPAN BUSTING WAR MUNITIONS
Wholesale Purchase of Saltpeter
and Material for Shimose Powder.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1. Passengers
who arrived by the Kosmos liner Neko:
today and officers on the steamer bring'
news ' of great Japanese activity at the
port of Iquique in Chile. They say that '
the Japanese government is buying up
all the saltpeter available In Chile and j
also that great stocks of "yucca," which
grows in great profusion in the Shama I
district, near Iquique, are being sent by
every steamer to Japan.
A line of fast steamers of about 6000
tons register has been put on between
Japan and Iquique and, according to re- '
ports heard at ports along the coast,
these steamers are taking full cargoes
of saltpeter and yucca on every trip.
Yucca Is a stunted form of- palm with
a resinous grass growing in the head,
the product of which contains a large
percentage of picric acid, and Its sole use
If for the manufacture of Shimose pow
der, the high explosive which was used i
with deadly effect In the recent war with
Russia.
THOUGHT LOST, IS FOUND
Boy "Wanders Away From Compan
ions Hunting on Mountain.
BELLINGH A M. Jan. 1. Ed ward
Hughes, 18 years old, son of City School
Superintendent Hughes, who became sep
arated from h-s hunting companions and
lost on Chuckanut Mountain last Mon
day, reached .' v. a point on the Great
Northern Railway, fifteen miles south of
here, this morning.
Hundreds had searched the mountain
and surrounding country since Monday,
but no trace of the youth had been found.
He had been given up for dead, and today
search was continued for his remains.'
The searchers are being recalled.
Law Ignored in Mobile.
MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 1. Mobile sa
loons, drugstores and hotels Ignored
the 9-o'clock closing hour tonight and
practically every establishment in town
remained open until midnight, on ad
vice of counsel.