Morning Oregonian., January 17, 1908, Page 8, Image 8

THE MORNING OREGOXIAX, FRIDAY. JANUARY 17, 1908.
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PORTLAND, FRIDAY. JAN. 17. 1908.
SOME REASONS FOR DOUBT.
Can a President pu-h a candidate
for the successorshlp to the office he
holds without peril to the candidate
and to the party they represent? Many
think not; for the propriety of the
action also comes into consideration.
and many persons will refuse to allow
a President to prescribe his own
choice of successor t,o them.
And yet it ha? teen done success
fully. Jefferson chose Madison, and
after Madison Jefferson and Madison
chose MoBroe. But their success was
due to the political and social condi
tions then existing. We were a primi
tive people. Flattery of the people,
which the Jeffersonians had cultivated
as an art, had not then been exploded.
It is wholly exploded now. The
Presidency then was regarded as an
exalted office. And the President who
would, stoop to the people was re
garded as a mighty man. It was a
great thing then to be a Senator, or
even a Representative in Congress.
But nobody who can do anything
els4 wants to hold either -of these of
fices now. Then, however, the Sena
tor or Representative in Congress, or
even the Governor of a Territory, in
the estimation of the backwoods peo
ple, was a man who had arrived at
the summit of human ambition.
Great man he was, indeed. Every
body looked up to him. Fifty years
ago our men who had arrived at
heights of unapproachable grandeur
were our Delegates In Congress from
Oregon and Washington. That was
before the day of the primary law,
which invites every man to nominate
himself, and "sooth up greatness."
But as Jefferson cho a his suc
cessor, so did Jackson choose his suc
cessor. Van Buren was not merely
the political successor of Jackson.
More than that, he was his son by
adoption the icsen heir of the
Jacksonlan empire. Tiberius was not
more the heir of Augustus. Yet Van
Jtsurcn, unlike Tiberius, was as
smooth, adroit and courtly politician,
in every possible way the antithesis
of his political father, as Tiberius, on
another side of human nature, was
the antithesis of Augustus. But the
people took Van Buren, because
Jackson so directed them, and elected
him by a very grtat majority. ' Van
Uurcn would have been elected again,
but for the financial crisis of 1837-40,
- which upset everything. Hero wor
ship, fund the worship of 'the hero's
successors went down before it.
Now, therefore, our precedents sus
tain the, idea that the man who has
made his mark in the Presidential of
fice may select his successor and the
people will elect him. But the times
are so changed that repetition of such
events is very problematical. Taft is
supported by Roosevelt. This support
undoubtedly will be a powerful factor
in pushing Taft for the nomination.
And yet, in the present state of the
public mind, it might be no help at
all to Taft in the election.
Authority, which in Jefferson's time
and in Jackson's time, was supreme
. in our politics, now is nothing, bears
no scepter, is a pitiful thing to behold.
Popular undoubtedly as Roosevelt is,
there will be no Idolatrous devotion
to the man who poses as his successor.
It Is the nature of democracy, as it
advances and develops, to refuse
recognition to heirs, to forget ances
tors, to go It alone. Kven in the time
of Napoleon men asked why the son
. of the Revolution should want an heir
arid try to found a dynasty? This, in
deed, was his undoing. Pushed as the
heir of Roosevelt's Administration!
Taft will have no added strength.
Roosevelt is recognlre4 as a strong
; man, but his qualities are not trans
' mlsstble to any successor, and In these
' later times the people care little for
the reflected image or shadow of
greatness. Yet Taft, standing for
himself, and on his own account, is
an able and worthy man.
Of course, we do not say Taft could
not be elected. But the Roosevelt
Administration has bitter and power-
ful enemies, in men who heretofore
have acted with the Republican party,
yet who are not likely tobe drawn to
it again by a man known as the
Roosevelt candidate. Further, with
the working classes of the country no
Republican candidate again will be as
strong as R osevelt -has ben, -and
there is grave reason, in all the cir
cumstances, to doubt whether the
President's advocacy of a candidate
for the nomination will help him
should he get the nomination in the
canvass for his election.
NO GROUND FOR PROTEST.
At the present writing, no protest
against the enlargement of the powers
of the Port of Portland has been re
ceived rbm Westport, Ranier, Ka
lama, St. Helens or any other lower
river port except Astoria. And yet
each of these porta has the same in
terest in the maintenance of a good
bar : service that Astoria has. But
while the Don Quixotes of Astoria
have been fighting wind mills, these
other ports have attended strictly to
their own business and granted the
same privilege to Portland and all
other towns along the river. As a re
sult, they are growing rapidly and will
continue to grow as Portland grows,
and as the remainder of the North
west will grow. All that Portland
asks in the present measure ia the
permission of its own citizens and tax
payers to improve the tug and pilot
service on the river and bar. Not one
penny is asked from anyone outside
the Port of Portland, and not the
slightest obstacle is placed in the way
of Astoria's or any other port's initiat
ing any measure it may see fit for
carrying out its own ideas of improv
ing the service.
But Portland has become weary of
having its great commercial interests
at the mercy of a few people whose
sole interest in Coliynbia river ship
ping centers in the few dollars paid
the bar pilots and tugboat men. Our
shippers have become tired of rushing
work on steamers and sending them
through to Astoria to be delayed from
a few days to two weeks because there
was no one in authority at Astoria
who could make the pilots attend to
business. It is not pleasant to have
the river pilots come back to Port
land, after taking a steamer down the
river in record time, and give as a
reason for her failure to put to sea,
that it was Pilot Blank's turn to go
out and that he had been drunk the
night before and failed to appear in
time for the tide. They are not all
Pilot Blanks at Astoria, but the head
less system under which the pilots
work, with no one to direct them or
to discharge, those who do not attend
to their work, is so demoralizing that
even the sober, reliable pilots are dis
gusted and inclined to perform their
duties in a half-hearted manner,
which is not to the best interests of
the service.
Astoria does not suffer by this
service and Astoria is accordingly in
different about its being Improved.
But Portland, where the business is
handled, is held responsible by the
shipowners, who can make or ruin
ports with their discriminatory rates,
and Portland proposes to improve the
service with her own money and in
her own way.
LABOR IN THE SOUTH.
Governor Vardaman's recent mes
sage to the Legislature of Mississippi
is interesting in spite of its crude
barbarity. Its interest arises from its
obvious bearing upon the immigration
question and the industrial develop
ment of the South. Mr. Vardaman
said in his message that the negroes
should be made to pay for their own
schooling and that their education
must not go beyond simple industrial
training. From literature and science
they must be excluded. He does not
seem to know that no public policy
could be more suicidal than to nur
ture a servile class, all ' of whose
brutal instincts would . rage in full
vigor while the intellectual and moral
faculties, which ought to check them,
were suppressed. Fortunately, there
are Southern statesmen not so blind
as Mr. Vardaman, though it is unde
niable that he represents a very large
number of people who think as he
does about negro education.
The great majority of th Southern
whites look upon the negro as not
much better than a beast and many
of them .are unwilling that anything
should be done to raise him above
the status of a beast. This sentiment
may be praiseworthy or it may be
blamable. We mention it here with
out comment, except to say that inas
much as the negroes form the great
body of laborers in the South every
man who works at the same tasks as
they do must share the ignominy of
their social inferiority. Southerners
have at besotbut a slight appreciation
of the dignity of manual labor. They
cannot understand how a white man
may toil with his hands and at the
same time be an intelligent, thought
rul citizen. TO them every person
who works at a nigger's job is a nig
rer. whatever "his color mav be.
Northern white men of the laboring
classes are pretty well informed of
this feeling" among Southerners and
it counteracts the attractions which
would otherwise .induce them to mi
grate to the Gulf states. The pleasant
climate, the fertile soil, the cheap
land of that territory would naturally
tempt white settlers from the North;
but the prospect of being ranked with
the negroes, socially spoils the whole
forecast and they go to the Pacific
Coast or to Canada. The South
clamors in vain for laborers from the
North. The social stigma affixed to
manual labor would not of itself repel
Italian and Hungarian immigrants.
These people move in large groups
and, living by themselves, neither
know nor care what the' whites think
of them, so long as they receive their
pay. As a rule, they do not even wish
to become citizens. They save their
wages and ultimately go back to
Europe to finish their lives among
their kin. One would suppose that
thesevworkmen ought to go South as
readily as anywhere else. But it is
not so. They also shun the Gulf.
states.
The reason is that the many South
ern employers of labor have hitherto
held their workmen in peonage. They
were guarded by armed men, com
pelled to sleep in stockades, tracked
with bloodhounds if they attempted
to escape, and severely ' whipped
sometimes mutilated, when recap
tured. The stories of the. men who
have suffered this kind of treatment
and Anally escaped hap spread
throughout Europe, as well . as the
Northern states of the Union. They
are known everywhere and they have
created the opinion among working-
men that emigration to the South is
much the same as selling one's self into
slavery. Aided by agents from Italy,
Austria and perhaps other European
nations, the Federal Government is
doing its best to break up the practice
of peonage: but it still exists, and of
ficials have publicly stated that it Is
almost universal throughout the Gulf
states. . "
Peonage and the social stigma af
fixed to labor would seem' to be
enough to divet migration from the
South. But the cruel vagrant laws in
several states work to the same end.
They were enacted in the first place
to compel idle negroes to labor, but
they apply .equally well to ' whites.
Under these laws a man can be ar
rested and condemned to a long term
in.J:he chain gang for the mere offense
of having no employer. Since every
workman is liable to be out of. a job
now .and then, it can be seen how very
feebly these vagrant laws must at
tract men who wish to emigrate).
From facts like these one easily con
cludes that the South must make
some rather radical changes in statute
and public opinion before it will be
come much of a Mecca for working-
men who wish to better their condi- "1
tion.
BASK CURRENCY.
In this country of ours we are aw
fully afraid of putting it in the power
of some syndicate or combination to in
crease or decrease the volume of cur
rency. This, doubtless, is a wise fear.
But they order these things better in
France. "A week ago," says the New
York Times, "we were remarking
upon the routine increase- of note is
sues by the Bank of France to a total
of 266,000,000 francs. In the next
statement, just issued, we remark a
decrease of note issues of 83,900,000
francs. Nothing could be more shock-
ng to American currency experts.
Who could make any calculations
with the volume of money supply
jumping about ajt that rate? Does
not the price of everything depend
upon the volume of money, and if
there are to be fliictuatl ns by. hun
dreds of millions weekly would not
all business be disordered?"
This is an argument for a great
central . bank, like the Bank -of
France; which, however, is not organ
ized upon methods that would suit
our conditions, yet are methods we
might imitate. Our fundamental er
ror, as every one concludes who has
given study to, the subject, is that we
issue bank notes on government
bonds, instead of on commercial bills.
Hence our bank note issues have no
flexibility, or adaptations to circum
stances or to changing requirements.
"One may ask." says a French
authority, "why it is any more dan-
serous to issue bank notes aga-lnst
fixed securities than against commer
cial bills. The answer lies, not alone
in the fact that the latter come due
af short maturity, but, more impor
tant still, that the quantity of real
commercial paper is necessarily limit
ed to the sum total of trade arising
from real production of merchandise.
which can be turned into money. This
quantity is not susceptible of indefinite
extension, as Is (that of Stock Ex
change or other long securities
which, moreover, have no such posi
tive value as merchandise which, in
an extremity, has the whole world for
its market."
Under the French system, there
fore, the volume of "bank notes may
go up or down, in accord with the de
mands of trade. And this is the safe
and rational way. It can be effected.
however, only through the agency of
a central bank and branches.
Under our present system, bank is
sues have no elasticity whatever. In
a money crisis you can't get bank
notes on wheat or cotton, no matter
how much wheat or cotton you may
possess. The effect of the Aldrich
currency bill will be a possible addi
tion of $250,000,000 to a bond-secured
circulation, which also will be locked
up on a tight market. Though the ob
ject may not be to create further
market . for bonds, that will be its
chief result.
MORE FEEDERS REQUIRED.
Many needed .railway extensions
and branches in the Pacific North
west were neglected, during a decade
of the most prosperous times that
Western railroads have ever known.
The reason for this neglect and the il
legitimate uses to which the large net
earnings were put, have been pretty
well explained in the past year. The
futility of crying over spilt milk is
generally understood, and about all
that remains for us is to try to punish
those who spilt the milk, and then en
deavor to induce better treatment in
the future. It may seem strange to
believe that there will be early re
sumption of railroad building in dull
times when it was impossible to get
railroads built when times were good.
But there are certain influences at
work., which in the near future may
have ' the effect of forcing railroad
consbuictlon' In localities where, the
neef it is most urgent.
The Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul
extension to the Pacific Coast was
financed before the recent trouble be
gan, and there is, accordingly, no in
terference in its plans. The Wall
Street' Summary, in a recent review
of the Milwaukee's finances, stated
that provision has been made for
branches on -the Pacific end- of the
road in order that it could secure a
portion of the lumber business, which
was one of "the main reasons for
building to the Coast." In the same
article it was stated that "the busi
neSs of transporting freight across the
continent is more profitable than
hand line local freieht in a compact
territory, because, transcontinentaf
rates are higher, and the long haul
requires less handling." These are
he conditions which have caused nf w
roads to head for the Coast, and
which will force the old roads to de
velop, to the fullest extent, the untex-ploit-ed
territory immediately adjacent
to their lines.
A news item in yesterday's Ore
gonian said that more than 200,000
cars are idle on the American rail
roads, and many thousands of these
cars are owned by transcontinental
roads and their connections. A year
ago every ear available in the United
States was in service,-and the number
was woefully inadequate. With the
territory already developed supplying
more traffic than could be handled,
there was no immediate incentive
from a purely mercenary standpoint,
for the roads to build any branches.
The traffic from these new branches
would In fact only have served to in
tensify the congestion which was ia
evidence from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
Now all is chanced.. The railroads
already built through to the Pacific
Coast have plenty of empty cars on
every siding between the" Coast and
the Missouri river. With all -of this
rolling stock lying idle, there is an at
tendant large shrinkage in the re
ceipts of the road, but the fixed
charges are as large as ever. This
will necessitate a hustle for business
and as the fields already- developed
are unable at this time to provide
more traffic, it is necessary. In order
to protect the Interests of the enor
mous investment, to seek new traffic
in new regions which must now be
opened up. The returns will be
quickly forthcoming, and It is not at
all improbable that the new year will
witness railroad building in Oregon on
quite an extensive scale.
Wreckage of the British ship Hart
field is reported coming ashore on the
west coast of -Vancouver Island.
"Wreckage" is about all that ever
comes ashore from any vessel, caught
In the deadly currents, that sweep
along that terrible north coast, for
the crew seldom gets ashore. There
arrf shipwrecks wherever ships sail
and probably will continue to. be until
the end of time, but nowhere in trie
known world do ' the crews have so
little show for their lives as along the
Vancouver Island cdast. The case of
the Hartfleld may prove one of those
rare exceptions in which the crew
reach shore in safety. Further details
of the wreck, if there has been a
wreck, will be awaited with interest.
Loss of life by shipwreck near the
Columbia river is rare indeed. The
cases in whfch life is saved on. the ter
rible north coast are rare.
What stuff this is! We quote from
the Astorian:
There Is auch a thing as carrying the
spirit of dominance too far. and Portland
haa about reached the limit of her right. In
thus deliberately eliminating this city from
the maps and markets of Oregon, and she
la warned, now and here, that we of As
toria intend to square this thing and do it
with dollars, since Portland is amenable to
nothing else on God'a green earth.
Why, indeed, Portland is not think
ing for a moment of 'eliminating As
toria from the maps and markets of
Oregon. But Portland Intends to take
care of her own position and her own
business. As for dollars, of which
doubtless Astoria has great store but
what's the use of such, brag and brav
ery as that of our Astorian friend?
However, "This unhaired sauclness
and boyish troops The King doth
smile at."
Part of the testimony introduced
as evidence of Thaw's insanity is that
of a club steward to whom Thaw en
trusted three cigarettes, with a re
quest that they be placed in the safe
as something "precious." If this in
cident is used-Against Thaw, a similar
test might pHlve most of the Idle rich
of the fast set in New York to be
eligible for the asylum. But few of
these brainless sons of rich men are
forced to recognize any value in mere
money, it is too common and plenti
ful, but the value of a cigarette ap
peals to them, and the world would
seem a hollow mockery if they were
deprived ff the "coffin nails." The
cigarette Indolent has failed to
demonstrate that Thaw is any more
insane than hundreds of others of his
stripe. - .
James J. Hill has ordered four elec
tric locomotives to be used in pulling
his trains through the Cascade tun
nel. Considerable time will be lost in
attaching and detaching these ma
chines at each end of the tunnel, but
as the present method is dangerous on
account of the gases generated by coal
smoke, it became necessary to make
the change. On Mr. Hill's North
Bank road his trains will roll through
the Cascade Mountains behind steam
locomotives, with the passengers out
on the platforms enjoying the'unsur
passed scenery. -
The six months' drought in the Pun
jaub district in India has been broken
by heavy rains throughout the dis
trict, and the threatened famine has
been averted. The rain came too late
to Insure very heavy crops, but it has
undoubtedly saved thousands of lives
and much suffering. The effects of
this protracted dry spell were1 far-
reaching and contributed materially
to forcing wheat prices tip to tl per
bushel in this country, again illustrat
ing that "one man's meat is another
man's poison.''
The "wet" nd "dry" forces at For
est Grove agreed this year not to fight
the UBual battle in the annual elec
tion. The lion and the lamb have
concluded to lie down together, but
with the lion apparently on the in
side of the lamb.
Wonder what the present opponents
of the Roosevelt policies will be say
ing in 1912 if they succeed in electing
a President satisfactory to the trusts?
Whom will they then charge with re
sponsibility for economic ills?
Like the negro who was on trial for
theft and was addressed by the judge
as defendant, Schmitz and Ruef might
well say, "No, your Honor, I'm not the
defendant; I'm the fellow what stole
the chicken."
For some reason candidates for of
fice are not as numerous at this sea
son as they were two years ago. Per
haps they observed the expensiveness
of a campaign under the direct pri
mary.
It is fortunate for the woman
whose husband - disciplined her1 by
throwing hot potatoes into her face
that hot skillets were not at the mo
ment accessible.
Maybe it is natural for rival kinds
of salmon gear in the Columbia river
to want each other abolished and
themselves free to catch all the fish
In sight-
At least there Is something gained
by showing that the Thaw family had
an Insanity taint. It affords an argu
ment for regulation of marriage.
One naturally wonders under what
technicality the indicted bank wreck
ers in San Francisco will escape pun
ishment.
Oklahoma in its new Constitution
evidently overlooked provision against
the Kentucky plan of personal ven
geance.
If you are oing to register and
you must if you wish to vote do it
before the' busy season is on.
ENGLISH NEWSPAPER MERGERS J
Similar Methods Unknown Here, Re
garded "Home of the Trnsts."
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
It is singular that the idea of news
paper combinations should flourish bet
ter In England, apparently, than in this
country, which is regarded as the
home of the trusts. The passing of
the London Times under the control of
C. Arthur Pearson, whom Mr. Chamber
lain once described as "the greatest
hustler I have ever known outside of
America," forces this singularity upon
public attention, owing 'especially to
the foremost place so long held by the
Times in the journalism of the Eng-llsh-speaklng
world.
The facts are of the obvious kind.
In the United States a few "chains"
of newspapers exist, the most notable
being that of Mr. Hearst, but the
Hearst tendency has not been wide
spread. Here and there a capitalist'
like John R. McLean, of Cincinnati
and Washington, controls two large
newspapers In different cities, ' and In
Chicago there is a small group of im
portant papers under one control. The
New York Times and Philadelphia Public
Ledger are also allied interests. But,
on the whole, the syndicating of Ameri
can newspapers in trie past lew years
has developed much less rapidly than
at one time seemed probable. In New
York the leading dally journals are
still independent of each other in finan
cial responsibility and editorial direc
tion much more so, ' in fact, than
might have been anticipated when the
combination movement was at Its
height In America early in this decade.
English newspapers are still less
garish in inelr typographical appear
ance than the American, and they are
less prone to exploit the sensational
or the prurient in the news of the day.
Within the past decade or two the
London field has been invaded by a new
'school the cheap halfpenny press
which has cast off the staggering
solemnity and heaviness of the old
fashioned. English journal and intro
duced a composite of Parisian and
American methods, designed to create
circulation among ah Immense class
that hitherto had never acquired the
newspaper habit. Thar Daily Mall and
the Express are the shining exponents
of this school, and their success has
demonstrated what can be done in Lon
don with a journalism essentially su
perficial, flashy and spectacular In its
methods. Yet even these papers have.
In appearance, followed more conserva
tive and sober lines than the same
class of journals in America, While no
more truthful or scrupulous at heart.
perhaps, they are more In fear of the
libel laws and the courts, and they
have avoided the monstrosities of head
line and typographical form which
characterize so many of the American
dailies of large circulation. .
SOUTH AMERICAN INITIATIVE.
It Has Been Spoiled by Governmental
, Paternalism. '
Dr. I. S. Rowe in the North American
Review.
To the misrepresentations of South
American conditions we may add the
opinion, so generally expressed by all
writers, that Individual initiative and en
terprise are totally lacking, the govern
ment being expected not only to per
form its usual functions, but also to as
sist individuals in undertakings of
purely private character. It is true that
this tendency. Inherited from Spain,
strongly impresses the foreign observer.
and it requires some time to detect, the
changes hat are taking place. Among
the members of the younger generation
the example of the United States is ex
erting a marked influence. In Brazil, In
the Argentine and in Chile the influence
of the new spirit is most marked, not
only In commercial life, but also in civic
and philanthropic effort. The improve
ment of the educational system, the
closer commercial and intellectual con
tact with the United States, and the ex
ample of the large foreign population
have all contributed toward fostering the
new movement. Unless the signs of the
time, are fundamentally misleading, we
may confidently look forward to the
gradual disappearance of the Spanish
tradition of parentalism. ana to tne m
aumiration of a period of individual
initiative and enterprise which will set
at Test all doubts as to the capacity of
the neoDle of Latin America to avail
themselves of the rich' and varied re
sources, with which this section erf the
American continent has been endowed.
Mr. Bry' Fortune.
New York Times (In. Dem.).
T know that some people are giving much
thought to the money question, but that is
not worrying me much. The people of thia
country have made it possible for me to ac
quire an Independent Income tor all time to
come, so I have no worry on that score. W.
J. Bryan's speech before the Jacksonian
chili of Omaha.
From the top of his comfortable pile
Bryan looks out complacently upon
world where everybody Is not so fortu
nate. He has become rich by making a
business of politics, by pursuing the pro
fession of perpetual candidate. Even
now, when he has enough he is unwilling
to take down his sign and sell out the
business.
His fortune 'has been made alt the ex
pense of the Democratic party. In secur
ing "an Independent Income for all time"
he has bankrupted that noble organiza
tion. It was to a closely similar trans
action that Mr. Tennyson referred in
these verses: .
But that old man. now lord of the broad
estate and Hall.
Drout off gorged from a scheme that had
left us flaccid and draln'cr:
A Careful Scot In the Strand.
Westminster Gazette."'
'He was a Scotsman, and holield up the
traffic in a busy part of the Strand till
policeman came along to move him on.
"Look here, my man, you must not stay
there. You are blocking the traffic'
"That's a' richt," said - the Scotsman,
"but I've lost threepence," "Move on," I
say. You cannot hold up the traffic.
"But what am I tae dae for my three
pence?" queried the son of - Caledonia.
"I'll look for the threepence, and return
it to you If you call again," said the po
llceman; and the Scotsman departed reas
sured.
This Refers to Mr. S. A. II. Pater.
Cottage Grove Leader.
We believe that every man, no matter
what his station in life may be, who Is
guilty of conspiring to defraud the Gov
ernment out of its public lands should be
brought to justice, yet we fall to see the
propriety or Justice to the accused.
in
attempting to convict them upon the tes
timony of a convict, a self-confessed per
jurer and a professional land shark. The
spectacle is enough to cause Justice to
weep.
The Ideal Wife.
Chicago Record-Herald.
"What is your idea of an ideal wife?"
"One who wiil cook the meals, do the
washing, look after the furnace, make
her own clothes and and"
"And what?"
"Keep herself looking as young and as
beautiful as an actress who pulls down
J400 a week in vaudeville." .
Question For Question,
Chicago Tribune.
"Do you know how to cure a cold?"
"If I did," inquired the sarcastic citizen,
"would I be offering free advice on the
street, or would 1 be occupying a fine
suite of offices and catering to a waiting"
list a mile long?"
ROW AT INSURANCE MEETING fi
Each Faction Elects Ticket at FoTrst
Grove.
FOREST GROVE. Or.. Jan. If. (Spe
cial;) The annual meeting of the policy
holders of the Bankers & Merchants
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, held
here last night, developed an unexpected
sensation, owing to the attempt of some
of the managers to oust some of their
associates. At the election last year",
proxies were voted without question, but
on this occasion. Fred Watrous. one of
the officers, came in with a bunch of 127
proxies. When they were ready to vote.
resolution was Introduced and passed
by a majority of policy-holders present
that proxies should not be received. This
was opposed by the side holding so many
proxies, and- they refused to be governed
by the resolution.
They demanded that their proxies be
counted, wh.ch would elect the following
board of directors: C. 1 Beerup, Fred
Watrous. J. N. Hoffman. M. S. Allen
and E." W. Haines, of Forest Grove: Ie
Teutsch. of Pendleton, and J. P. Dodge,
of Ashland. They immediately organized
by electing Allen, president; Dodge.t vice
president; Hoffman, secretary. and
Beemp, treasurer. The opposition that
had refused to recognize proxies, selected
as board of dlrectorsrtW. H. Hollls. S. G.
Hughes. M- Feterson and E. W. Haines,
of Forest Grove, and Teutsch and Dodge
from the other ticket. These directors
organized by electing Haines, president;
Peterson, vice-president; Hollls, secre
tary, and Goff, treasurer. Haines and
Hollls have held the same positions the
past year, and the fight centers on them
principally, the leader of it being Wat
rous, who has been general superinten
dent the past year. The Watrous forces
are preparing to appeal to the courts to
put them in possession of the . business
and records.
The company has been in operation
about a year, and the reports submitted
showed J525.000 insurance written, and
150,000 applications pending. The receipts
on premiums were $12,o00, and the fire
losses J570O, for the year.
TRYING FOR KENOMINATION
Representative Barrett to Make a
Campaign on Statement No. 1.
PENDLETON, Or.. Jan. 16. (Special.)
The political situation, in tnls county Is
beginning to warm up. As the county is
overwhelmingly Republican, the princij
pal contests will be between the aspirants
for the nominations of that party.
Representative C. A. . Barrett, of
Athena, practically announced his can
didacy today for renomlnation, and de
clared he will make the race on a
straight Statement No. 1 platform. Bar
rett is also interested in the water code
and the proposition to extend the portage
road to The Dalles, both of which meas
ures died after a hard struggle in the last
Legislature.
It Is believed that Representative C. W.
Steeh, of Weston, will also be a candidate
for re-election, while William Slusher, of
thin city, joint representativfl for Uma
tilla and Morrow Counties, will probably
not try again.
All the county officers who are serv
ing their first terms will be in the field
for re-election. The Democrats have two
men in office now. Sheriff T. D. Taylor
and Assessor C. P. Strain. Both have
served two terms and Taylor will again
a y. .....)( ... ., ...l. 1 1 o . ; I : 1 1 1
a. (..iiujuai.., niiua 01.1a.111 in willing,
but- will not seek the nomination. Dis
trict Attorney G. W. Phelps is serving his
first term and will be a candidate for re-
nomination.
RO WILL GO C?
UNDER HAMMER
Sale in Linn County.
ALBANY, Or., Jan. 16. (Special.) The
real property of the Corvailis & Eastern
Railroad Company situated in Linn
County is to be sold for delinquent taxes.
A majority of the stock ia now owned by
tne tiarriman interests.
Sheriff Smith today began the adver
tisement of the property for public sale
February 17. The property advertised in
eludes the roadbed and right of way of
the company in this county, the round
house and machine shops at this city and
some tracts of real estate adjoining Al
bany.
The sale will be made on account of the
delinquent 1906 tax. This tax originally
amounted to $2658.83, but 20 per cent, pen
alty has already accrued and the amount
due is now $3302.34.
For several weeks Sheriff Smith has
been making an effort to secure the pay
ment of this tax, but in spite of many
promises the money has not been forth
coming. It Is rumored that the railroad
company will make an effort to enjoin
tb4 Sheriff from making the advertised
sale.
HORSE THIEF IS SENTENCED
Ralph McBain Must Spend at Least
a Year in State Prison.
PENDLETON, Or.. Jan. 16. (Special.)
Ralph McBain, the self-confessed horse
thief, was this morning given an indeter
minate sentence in the penitentiary.
Owing to the previous good reputation of
the young man, who was born and raised
In this county, a strong effort was made
to have him pardoned. The offense,
however, was somewhat of an aggra
vated nature, since he not only branded
colts but changed the brands on older
horses. His attorney and friends hope
to secure a pardon at the expiration of
one year, the minimum sentence.
Two Cars From Walla Walla.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., Jan. 16.
(Special.) Arrangements have been com
plerted and pledges secured sufficient to
secure two cars for Walla Walla In the
Inland Empire excursion to California,
which leaves here February 7. It was at
first planned to allot Walla; Walla but
one car. but the applications have far
exceeded expectations, and the second
car was added. This means that 60 peo
ple from Walla Walla will make the
trip.
Laurence Condit, Native Son.
SALEM, Or., Jan. 16. Laurence Condit,
a well-known and highly respected resi
dent of the Turner neighborhood, died
Tuesday night after an Illness of only two
days, from stomach trouble. He was
born near Turner 46 years ago. He was
an energetic and progressive man, and a.
leader in public affairs in the community.
He leaves a widow, Annie Neal Condit,
and a son and daughter. He Is also sur
rived by his mother and one brother.
Wheels of Stage Kill Driver.
. BURNS, Or., Jan. 16. (Special.)
Eugene Pollock, about 45 years of age,
who has been driving the stage on one
of the relayo between this city and
Vale, a. few days ago fell from his seat
while crossing the mountains east of
Westfall, sustaining fatal injuries. It
Is said the wheel passed over him,
breaking his neck. He left a wife and
children at vale, the widow being
daughter of Mr. Wells, of that city.
Diphtheria Claims Victims.
FOREST GROVE. Or., Jan. 16. (Spe
clal.) Albert Loomis, the 6-year-old boy,
on whose account the schools were closed
yesterday, died this morning. The doc
tors call the disease -diphtheretlc croup.
Another child is thought to have the dis
ease.
FATHER MAY LOSE HIS SON"
Child's Cnele Lays Plans to Secure
Lad by Adoption. -
OREGON CITY. Or.. Jan. 16. (Spe
cial.) The future of Harold Wolver
toti, aged 7 years, depends upon the -decision
of Judge Dimick. of the
County Court, who this afternoon took
under advisement a motion to dismiss,
the petition of Mr. and Mrs. Forshner.
who ask that the child be declared
abandoned and dependent under the
Juvenile Court statute of 1907, and be
sent to Uie Boys' and Girls' Aid So
ciety. The petitioners acknowledged
on the stand today their expectation
to adopt the boy from the society, in
the event of his being sent there.
The petition of Forshner is bitterly
opposed by the boy's father and
grandfather. The latter ts deeply at
tached to the boy and for the last six
months lias desired to adopt him, but
the lad's -parents, while objecting to
actual adoption, permitted the lad to
remain-in the care of "his grand
father, who lived with his daughter,
Mrs. Forshner. aunt of the child. The
Wolvertons say that for three months
previous to the time the petition was
made the boy was in the home of the
Forshners and could not have been de
pendent and abandoned, when he was
being cared for by his grandfather and
sister.
FILING ON HARNEY LANDS
Rush for Homes In Southeastern
Oregon Goes On Unabated.
BURNS. Or Jan. ' . (SneclaJ.V-The
business of the United States Land Office
In this city for the quarter ending De
cember 31, 1907, makes an excellent show
ing for this country, the total entries
and proofs for the nerlod covering 61,200.69
acres ana tne payments, fees and com
missions amounting to t5e.944.6-L The
month of December brought in $29,000 of
this sum. When It Is considered that
the financial panic held business in sus
pense a good part of the quarter, it will
be seen that the movement for the settle
ment of Harney County and contiguous
country Is a determined one and cannot
be stopped. Following Is a detailed state
ment of the Land Office transactions for
the quarter: -
Acres. Amount.
13 commuted homesteads. . tl.tt-Vi-Ttf $ z.'Jo.ds
12 excesses 77.!K n7.4:
133 timber and stone 10.lM.xs T.SS.!i;
29 original desert entries.. 4.71 1. OS
14 final moments desert.. 2.112 2
1.177.W
2.112.2.1
l.St'2.11' :
22.0O
4.00 -
104 homejstead entries 15.So7.ti!
42 nnai proofs e.ns.77
11 state selections 1.1&7
2 railroad selections..... 200.00
Fees, timber and stone
- entries 1.
Fees, testimony. tran
1,330.00
script, etc
Total 51.200.69 $50,044.64
THIS ALBANY JURY CONVICTS
Louis Kroschel Found Guilty of VI-
olatinjj Local Option Law.
ALBANY. Or.. Jan. 16. (Special.)
Louis Kroschel, one of the proprietors of
the Franitfin House in this city, waa con
victed tonig-ht of violation of the local
option liquor law. He was tried today
in Justice Porter's Court and the jury
was out six hours. . Sentence will be im
posed later. Otto Bllyeu testified he en
tered the Franklin House September 2T
and was refused whisky, but was told he
could have "ginger ale" and was given
two bottles for a dollar. W. L. Passon
ana l-l. L. Mitchell, the two detectives
who operated here under- direction of the
Anti-Saloon League, witnessed the pur
chase and swore the bottles contained
whisky. This is the third case tried
on the bunch of complaints filed In Octo
ber, and is the first conviction, the juries
failing to agree in the other trials. When
the complaints were filed, Kroschel left
the city before a warrant was serve! on
him, but returned last month and gave
himself up. William Olin, an employe
of the Franklin House, will be placed on
trial Monday on a similar charge.
WALLA WALLA BONDS AT PAR
Chicago Firm Takes $100,000 Issue
. at J, Per Cent.
WALLA WALLA, Wash.! ' Jan. 13 -(Speeial.)
Sale was made today of $100,000
worth of municipal bonds to Rollins - ft
Company, of Chicago, at par. The money
ia to be used fti completing the new city
hall and Are station. The bonds bear 5
per cent interest. The Are station was
almost completed when the panic struck
the country while negotiations were in
progress with another firm ;'of brokers
last Fall, but the city hall building 13
only about one-fourth completed. When
the brokers refused to take the bonds, ail
work was stopped except on the city
hall, which was completed a few days
ago. Contractors hope to begin worlt
soon on the pity hall.
PLTjNGES KNIFE INTO HEART
Jealousy Over Woman Leads to
Murder In Coeur d'Alene.
SPOKANE, Jan. 16. At Coeur d'Alene.
Idaho, last, -night, Steve Poster waa
stabbed through the heart and, Instantly
killed. The officers found a Hungarian
named Wreens and a man named Gehyn
skl in the house with the corpse. The
knife was in Gehynski's pocket covered
with blood. It Is stated the men had
been drinking and Poster went toward a
bed occupied by a woman who was
living with Wreens, but who was not his
wife. Wreens became Jealous, went to
the kitchen and came back with the knife
which he plunged into Poster's heart.
Wreens and Gehynskl are under arrest-
Aged Linn County Vters.
ALBANY, Or., Jan. 16. (Special.
Though the registration books have been
open only a little more than a wek.. there
are six octogenarians already listed in
Linn County. They are John Cams, of
West Albany, aged S7; A. S. Miller, of
Albany, father of State Senator Frank J.
Miller, aged S6: David Froman. Sr., of
West Albany, aged S6; S. R. Scott, of
North Harrlsburg. aged 85: S. M. Penlng
ton, and W. M. Powers, of West Albany,
aged 83 and 80 respectively. There are
already 27 men registered in Liniu-efounty
who are more than 70 years of age.
Debates in Linn County Tonight.
ALBANY, Or.. Jan. 16. (Special.) The
semifinal debates for the championship of
the Central Oregon district in the State
High School league series will-be held
tomorrow night, when the high schools of
Albany and 'Brownsville will meet in
this city and teams representing the high
schools of Lebanon and Junction City
will contest in the latter city.
Grand-Jury Fails to Report.
PENDLETON, Or., Jan. 16. (Special.)
The grand Jury which Is investigating the
case of Dave Lavender, the Weston
Marshal who killed a young man sev
eral months ago while he was Intoxicated
and refusing to submit to arrest, failed
to report this evening. This is the second
day of the Investigation. It is alleged the
shooting was unjustifiable.
Wagon Rons Over Sugene Lad.
J3UGENB. Or., Jan. 16. (Special.)
Lawrence Kelsey, S years old. while play
ing near the Geary school, was run over
by an empty lumber .wagon this after
noon. His head was considerably bruised
and one shoulder broken