THE aiORXiyG OREGOXIAy, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1908. JUDGE ROOT ASKS GORDON CASH Either Asks Bribe or Money for Campaign Fund From Railroad Attorney. GORDON WILL NOT EXPLAIN Has Declined to Say Anything About SIgnifcance of Letters, but J toot Has Given His Version Orig inals Are With Committee. SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 21. Spe cial.) The Spokesman-Review this morning publishes the following letter from Judge Milo A. Root to Attorney M. J. Gordon: "OLYMPIA. Wash., Aug. 1. 1908- Pear Judge: Am sick and have been for two weeks part of the time very serious blood poisoning In arm. Doc tor says I am out of danger now. Hope to be out next week. Am anxious about our friends. Am exceedingly em barrassed by promises made on assur ances received. I hate to bother you, as I know your position, but if they can be jogged up" a little it would wonderfully help this situation. Beg ging pardon for annoying, which I would have done only because of my extremity, I beg to remain, as ever, very truly yours, "MILO A. ROOT." Two Interpretations Possible. This letter and others to Attorney M. J. Gordon, formerly attorney for the Great Northern, from Judge Milo A. Root, who resigned last month from the Supreme Court following sensa tional disclosures concerning his of ficial acts which have been investi gated by a committee from the , State Bar Association, have been procured by the Spokesman-Review. Whether the construction put upon the letter by Judge Root that It is only a request for the payment of a J.'iOO political campaign fund or whether the letter Is an unfortunate call for money promised Root by Gordon as a bribe Is a question which is now be fore the State Bar Association. The original letters are now with the Root investigation committee in Seattle, but before reaching the com mittee they passed through several hands and several copies of them are In existence. It is upon the text of these and other letters that the com mittee will chiefly base its report upon the Root-Gordon matter. Asks Again for Money. . The other letters follow: "Explanation satisfactory. However, crowd them a little when convenient, as 1 am quite embarrassed by promises made by reason cf assurances received." (This letter has neither date nor signature). "Olympia. Wash., Sept. 26, 1906. My Dear Judge: Yours enclosing transporta tion received. Thank you very much. Yours, verv truly, "MILO A. ROOT." Olympia, Wash., Feb. 11, 190R. My Dear Judge: I expect to go to Seattle Thursday 13th) and will probably not re turn to Olympia until about February 24. If you are in Seattle during that time I shall be glad to see ynu. Y'ours very trulv, "MILO A. ROOT." "Olympia. Wash., April 24. Ipos. Dear Judge: When you are over on this side please let nie see you. Yours very truly. "MILO A. ROOT." "Olympia. Wash.. April 30. 1908. Dear Judge: I will try to be at the Butler in Seattle Friday, at 3 P. M. If you are not there I will call again .t 3:30 o'clock and if I fail to find you. again at 4. I wished to see you as early as 3 o'clock If convenient, as I go away that after noon to Tacoma. We had some fun Josh ing Crow and Mount about the Chronicle's announcement of your candidacy. Yours, "MILO A. ROOT." Committee Has Originals. The originals of these letters were turned ovei by Attorney Gordon three months ago to Nuzum & Nuzura. who represent Gordon as attorneys in his effort to procure a settlement of his shortage with the Great Northern. From Nuzum & Nuzum tiiey passed into the hands of Frank Graves, another of Gordon's attorneys, and Frank T. Post, who took them to Tacoma and Olympia, where they were shown to leading mem bers of the bar and to members of the Supreme Court. - Mr. Graves brought them back to Spo kane, where copies were made, the orig inals passing into the hands of the Root Investigating con mitteeQ by which they were taken to Seattle. Since the letters passed out of his hands Attorney Gordon has declined to discuss them or explain their meaning. Judge Root, on the other hand, has in newspaper interviews and private con versation given his version of the sub jects to which they refer. At the time the letter referring to rail road transportation was written it was unlawful for the railroad to issue -free transportation between points within ths state, but possibly not unlawful to issue such transportation between a point with in the .state and one without. , The State Railroad Commission law for bidding the issuance of free passes be came effective in the Summer of 1905, but the Interstate Commerce law to the same effect did not go into effect until January. 1907. This letter was written In September. 19rt. The letter without date or signature Is in Judge Root's handwriting on the sta tionery of the State Supreme Court. The Root investigating committee has several other letters written by Judge Root to Attorney Gordon, most of which are of minor importance, referring merely to conferences between the two. Among them, however, are the letters relating to the decision in the case of Harris vs. the Great Northern Railway Company, showing that the text of the decision, on rehearing, was written by Attorney Gordfin while he represented the railroad company ae its attorney In the case. The committee has also from the stenogra pher's notes the text of Attorney Gordon's replies to the.se letters and copies of his correspondence with the higher officials of the Great Northern at St. Paul regard ing the Harris case and other Great Northern matters pending In the Supreme Court. BORROWED CAMPAIGX FX'XDS Judge Root's Partner Says He Ad vanced 3Ioney for Advertising. SEATTLE, Wash., Dec ,23.-Special.) The State Bar Association committee in vestigating the charges against Judge Milo A. Root heard the testimony of El B. Palmer, former law partner of Judge Root, and of J. Will Lysons, secretary of the Republican State Central Committee, today. The witnesses were questioned concerning $350 which was spent in be half of Judge Root and other candidates during the campaign. The ttimony brought out that the $350 In question was furnished by E. B. Palmer. It was given to Mr. Lysons for disbursement and was spent in advertise ments in state papers and In making halftone cuts of candidates. "During the campaign Judge Root came to me and said that he was in need of money to pay for cuts to be used in state papers," said Mr. Palmer. "He said that he expected to receive tSM but that it had not arrived.' I volunteered to advance the money and to wait until his money came before I was paid back. The money was used in the interests of Judge Root and other candidates. I wrote sev eral articles, some of wiiich were printed in the papers and some of which were not. Cuts were - ordered and sent to papers who cared to use them. At the close of the campaign - Judge Root was unable to repay the money and what ever sum he expected did not come." The investigation committee will wait no longer foi the testimony of M. J. Gordon, former counsel, for the Great Northern. Although notice that the com mittee would like to hear Mr. Gordon has been given, no word has been receive from the former attorney for the rail road. Judge Gordon's friends at Tacoma aver that he is shooting ducks on Nis qually Flats. Tomorrow arrangements will be made bv Chairman John H. Powell to hear Judge Root, after which the taking of testimony will end. The report of the committee will be sent to the president of the State Bar Association within a few davs. It was announced today by the committee that the testimony of B. B. Palmer and of J. Will Lysons added little to the information already possessed. "The hearing today brought out no new developments," said one member of the committe. "It was deemed necessary' to call Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lysons as the committee desires to hear every phase of the case and to use every means to get all the facts. We shall call Judge Root when it Is convenient for him." OFFICER FULLS IN HIVEH MAX IXDER ARREST LIKEWISE MAKES MIGHTY SPLASH. Ruction In Scow-town Ends Disas trously, Both for Celebrants and Police Quelling- Disturbance. Scowtown celebrated the approach of Christmas Thursday night, with a ruction. The celebration ended disastriously few four of the merry-makers, for they land ed in Jail. It was disastrous for Police man Robinson, too, for he fell in the river. Incidentally one of the men under arrest also dropped into the icy waters of the Willamette with a mighty splash. The noise of men arid women pounding heads and shrieking, intermingled with other sounds of a "battle royal" reached the ears of Patrolman Swennes, five blocks distant up on Hawthorne avenue. At his approach a number of the bellig erents disappeared, but he arrested four. They gave the names of Annie Collins, aged 32; Rosie McDonald, aged 32; Her bert McDaniel, aged 34. and B. J. Gar rison, aged 66. A number of men had been calling at the scow of the two women. It appeared. In the language of one of the women, "somebody started something and then it was all oft." Garrison was badly beaten-' and cut about the head, and McDaniel had one finger almost cut off. The patrol wagon was called. Patrolman Robinson was' forced to assist one of the women in her unsteady walk, ae a result of the yule tide she was celebrating. The way from the scow led over a narrow board walk, consisting, of two planks. When the officer and his charge reached the middle of this walk the bluecoat slipped on something and fell Into the river. He scrambled out quickly, escaping with a wetting only up to his waist. McDaniel tried to get away and he fell Into the river, too, but was fished out by Sergeant Keller and Patrolman Swennes. The riotous crowd was taken to the City Jail. FENDER SAVES HIS LIFE Laborer Has Miraculous Escape From Grinding Wheels. Knocked down and almost directly underneath the wheels of a swiftly-moving "S" car at Third and Stark streets Thursday night, Ernest Lundgren. a young laborer, was saved from impend ing death by the car fender. He escaped with a few scratches and the inconven ience of being rolled In the muddy street. Lundgren lives at the Harrison Hotel, corner of Front nad Harrison streets. Accompanied by John Strum, he was attempting to cross the street in front of car 463. southbound, in charge of Motorman Branstretter and Conductor Bahls. Lundgren gave a leap across the track, but was struck and felled to the center of the trackway. A woman crossing the street Just behind Lundgren saw him lying in imminent danger and screamed a warning. The car struck him, rolled him a few feet and the fen der lifted him to safety. HORSES SHOW THEIR SENSE i Four-Horse Team Leaves Tipsy Driver and Starts Home.' Because their driver Had gone to get a drink Thursday night and tarried in definitely, four big horses drawing a wood wagon, belonging to Jake Fubu. 9 Morris street, ab ndoned their tipsy caretaker to his fate and started on their way to their stable, showing their" "horse sense." The four horses knew the way and walked soberly down North Fourteenth street, giving over to the right side of the way wnenever iney mei aiiuuier a nnifromsin standing under an arc light looked into the back of th wagon as it passed and, noticed there was no driver. He took the norses to a siame at 124 North Twelfth street. Their owner learning of the plight of his team and driver, called for them at a late hour. He said that this team, after 7 o'clock, will always find their way home If they are not tied. RYAN SLACKENS HIS HOLD By Doctors' Advice Resigns AH but Three Directorships. NEW YORK. Dec. 24. Thomas F. Ryan announced yesterday that, yielding to the advice of his physicians, he had resigned from the directorate of 31 cor pdrations. The only enterprise in the management of which the noted finan cier retains a hand are the Morton Trust Company, the National Bank of Commerce and the American Tobacco Company. Where IsMay. Balnes? Relatives of a young woman named May Batnes. in Kansas City, are anx ious to learn of her . whereabouts. She was at last accounts in Portland, and while she kept up a regular correspond ence since leaving home, her relatives have not heard from her for the past two months and are consequently alarmed over her long silence. Any information concerning the missing young woman should be sent to Mrs. Lola G. Baldwin, of Portland, who will at once communi cate with the family in Missouri. FLAWS IN NEW PUN Civil Service Bad for Fourth Class Postmasters. ROOSEVELT ACTED ALONE Had He Consulted Postorfice De partment Officials, Objections to Plan Would Have Been Forthcoming. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Dec. 24. President Roosevelt did not consult the practical men of the Postofflce Department before Issuing his order placing fourth-class Postmasters under civil service protection. Had he done so, he. would have been advised against the change, for it is the opinion of the administrative officers of the de partment that the plan is impractical. The order, as it now stands, does not apply west of the Mississippi or south of the Ohio River. It is in force in states which are thickly populated, and where fourth-class offices, as a rule, pay rea sonably good salaries. But if the order is extended to the West and the South, real trouble - will begin, and the trouble will not all be on the hands of the ad ministration; it will extend into the rural communities affected by the order. Objections AVell Founded. There are a number of perfectly plain reasons why It will be impractical to se lect fourth-class Postmasters by civil service examination. particularly in sparsely settled districts. A fourth-class Postmaster must, first of all, have a place to conduct the office, and in al most every instance the postoffice is in a store. Secondly, the Postmaster must be centrally located, so as best to serve the peopie of his community. Depart ment officials do not hesitate to declare that these conditions cannot readily be met under the system proposed by the President. There are thousands of fourth-class postofflces that pay less than $50 per year to the Postmaster. Naturally, these of fices are In remote rural districts, and handle comparatively little mail. The files of the department show that even under the old system extreme difficulty Is experienced In filling these offices, for the compensation Is not sufficient to pay a man to give up the necessary time to handling the mail; the Postmastership must of necessity be given to someone who will take It as a side issue, and the crossroads storekeeper Is best fitted to fill the position. Many Postmasters Would Fall. It is the frank opinion of one of the officials handling these appointments that fully 0 per cent of the present fourth class a Postmasters could not pass a civil service examination, and yet their serv ices are satisfactory to the department and to the communities in which the particular offices are located. If the civil service rule Is applied, the greatest difficulty will be experienced in finding Postmasters for these smaller offices. Examinations Are Costly. But there is still another objection, to the civil service method of selecting Post masters, applicable particularly to low salaried offices. Where a vacancy occurs in an office paying only $10, $20 or even $Ti0 a year (and there are thousands of them), there wli, be very few and seldom any residents of such community willing to spend from $20 to $50 for the privilege of going to some large city to take the civil service examination. For instance, the small offices in any Western state are usually remote from the capital or metropolis; it Is often necessary to reach these towns by stage. A trip from such a town to a point where civil service ex aminations are held would frequently cost from $?0 to $50 or more. In other words, an applicant for appointment as Postmas ter at such place would perhaps be com pelled to spend more than a year's sal ary Just to take the examination, and when taken he would have no assurance that he would be appointed. HOST NOT BDYCDTT PRESS NEW. ORLEANS RACING MEN DE NOUNCED BY COURT. Quasi-Criminal Element Cannot Dictate to Newspapers In Discus sing Public Questions. NEW ORLEANS Dec. 24. To boycott a newspaper doing an interstate business is an offense which falls directly under the decision of the Supreme Court in the hatters' case, said Judge Eugene U. Sanders, of the United States District Court, in charging the grand jury yester day. This starts another chapter in the de termined efforts to re-establish racing in New Orleans. It was charged that certain Interests were combining to boy cott newspapers which opposed racing and track gambling. ""We cannot permit a quasi-criminal portion of this population to dictate what the newspapers of this city shall be permitted to say in their discussion of public questions," Judge Sanders told the jury. HESITATES AND IS SHOT Los Angeles Storekeeper Fatally Wounded by Hold-Up Man. ' LOS ANGELES, Cul., Dec. 24. Three masked men entered the -grocery and liquor store of L. Johannsen tonight and called upon the proprietor to hold up his hands. Johannsen hesitated and two of the robbers fired, one shot striking Jo hannsen in the mouth and the other hitting a rib. He is thought to be fatally wounded. NO CABS FOR CHRISTMAS New York Drivers Reject Offer of Open Shop. NEW YORK, Dec. 24. All efforts to settle the strike of the cabdrivers affili ated with the Liberty Dawn Association failed today and tonight New York is confronted with a prospect of a cabless holiday on Christmas. The strikers re jected all terms Involving a recognition of the "open shop" principle. Body of Suicide Found. The body of an unidentified man about 25 years of age was found on Portland Heights yesterday by S. Perclfal, 5S4 Hawthorne Terrace. Near the body was a .32-caliber revolver with one chamber 7 A . .. . f -str sk IS V' ' .it. 1 lhll . . Wish You All a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Today we're closed. Tomorrow we place on sale holiday Neck wear, Suspenders, Muf flers, Smoking Jackets, and Bath Robes, at half price. 166-170 Third Street. exploded, and a wound in the right tem ple showed the cause of death. In the vest pocket of the deceased was found a cheap watch which was still running, indicating that death had been recent. Up to a late hour last night the remains had not been identified. The deceased waa about S feet 8 Inches in height and weighed 160 pounds. STOLE HIS OWN PROPERTY At Least Youth Arrested at The Dalles Says) So. Arrested and charged with stealing a moving-picture machine, which was his own property, was the unusual experience of Max Sniderman, a youth of 19, who was taken Into custody yesterday in The Dalles, Or., and brought back to this city Thursday night by Detective Graves. The lad is now locked up, awaiting a hearing in the Police Court. If Snider man's version of the charge is true, then he is the victim of an unusual set of cir cumstances. His arrest was made at the instigation of J. W. Weinstein, a junk dealer, with a store on Front street. Sniderman worked for Weinstein and lived at his house, 710 Second street. The young man was employed to visit the country towns and buy up old iron, bottles and other second-hand stuff. He worked on com mission. Weinstein asserts that Snider man had overdrawn' his commission ac count to the extent of about $40. Snider man left his trunl. containing the moving picture machine, at Welnstein's house, or rather, Weinstein thought that he did, and when Sniderman left on his last trip, opened the trunk to see. He found that the machine had been removed. Having regarded this as security for the money which he said was due him, he main tained that Sniderman had no right to take it. He, therefore, applied for a warrant for his arrest, charging him with larceny. Sniderman says that there was never any agreement as to the machine being held as security, and that he had taken it out of the house a long time before Weinstein broke Into hit; trunk. He is very much surprised to learn that he worked for many weeks and came out in debt, and talKS of having Weinstein ar rested for breaking into his trunk. The question of whtther the machine was left as security with Weinstein will be threshed out in the Municipal Court to day. PANAMA STORY IS DENIED Receiver for Old Company Calls "Scandal" Mere Fable. PARIS, Dec. 24. In view of a possible Congressional investigation in the United States Into the Panama Canal purchase, M. Lemairs, receiver for the old company made the following statement yesterday: "While I do not desire to go into details, I do not hesitate in speaking from personal knowledge, to brand the story of the existence of an American syndicate, to which the purchase money is supposed to have eventually to have gone, as a fable Invented out of whole cloth. As an officer appointed by the court it would be improper for me to say more." CAN'T MEET AT SALT LAKE Grand Army's Plans Spoiled by Re fusal of Low Rate. LIMA. O., Dec. 24.-J. Corrl Wlnans, National chief of staff of the Grand Army of the Republic, returned today from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he has been attending a conference of the executive committee. Mr. Wlnans says from all present indications the next annual encampment will not be held at Salt Lake City, but at Cincin nati or Pittsburg. The action was brought about by the refusal of the traffic association which met in Chi cago last week to grant a rate of 1 cent per mile. BURGLAR KILLS STUDENT Tragedy In Cellar at New York University. NEW YORK. Dec. 24. Vandwlght Sheldon, of Lockport, N. Y., a student in the school of engineering at Now York University, lost his life in a bat tle with" a burglar In the cellar of the house of Dean Stow, of the school, yester day. The murderer escaped after a chase In which several students took )art- Young Sheldon was shot in the abdomen and soon died. He was a cousin of Dean Snow. "Washington. With recommendations for their passape. President Roosevelt gent to Congress drafts of two bills providing aid for the military departments of civil edu cational institutions, and for the promotion of rifle practice In public schools, colleges, universities and civilian rifle clubs. M Happy N GUNS SGARE YEGGS Hold-Up of Great Northern Is Frustrated by Accident. ATTEMPT IS WARDED OFF Discovery of Cache of Powder and Masks Gives Warning to Author ities, Who Hasten to Scene on Special Train. BUTTB, Mont.. Dec. 24. What is be lieved to have frustrated an attempt to hold up the southbound Great Northern passenger train at the entrance of the Woodville tunnel, north of hefe, was the discovery of a cache of dynamite with black masks and caps. Heavily-armed officers left 05 a special train and met the oncoming passenger, but there was no attempt to hold up the train. More of ficers have just left for the scene in an automobile. Officers from Boulder are also on the scene. Whether the hold-ups got wind of the fact that officers were guarding the tun nel and were aboard the train to and from Helena, or abandoned their project because of unfavorable conditions, is not known; but at any rate two men who were seen by two hunters hiding, wear ing masks, near the tunnel, made no at tempt to carry out the purpose indicated by their actions. Sheriff's deputies were stin guarding the place where the cache was found at an early hour this morning, while others are scouring the country in hope of get ting trace of the men responsible for the cache. The hunters hurried to Butte and re ported their discovery yesterday morning to the Sheriff's office. Deputies were at once sent out to guard the tunnel and last night a special train with Sheriff Henderson. Deputy Sheriffs Wheeler and Richards, Yardmaster Byrne and General Agent MeMahon aboard. left Butte for the tunnel. Other men were left to guard the tunnel until morning. Schools to Fight Socialism. Boston uispatch to the New York Herald. Alarmed at what he considered a .dan gerous growth of socialistic teaching. Ed mund D. Barbour, of Beacon street, a retired merchant who amassed a fortune Wish to All Their Friends and ss Patrons a . oT Merry. Christmas mJ and Cordially Thank The People iy of Portland for Responding So A jr f) Graciously and Liberally to the i7 xMy A Opening of this Specialty A ls 1 Glove and H J Umbrella X.oxsy' WE WISH A eiry Girt AND A ew TO ONE AND ALL The Big Third-Of f Sale of Hart Schaff ner & Marx Suits and Overcoats Will Continue, Beginning Saturday Morning COR. THIRD AND MORRISON in China. Is about to put into operation an idea which is unique in the history of education. His plan resembles what Is known as the university extension system. It will consist of thirty colleges throughout Mas sachusetts, all directed by one admin istration. Mr. Barboiur believes that most college educated persons llock to the cities. His plan seeks to counteract this tendency by affording persons in the country a training In liberal arts. Col lege professors in existing institutions will be employed for the lectures, and for buildings the vacant hours of public schools, lecture halls and libraries will be utilized. Under the Massachusetts col lege plan Instruction will cost each stu dent $138 for the entire four years' course. BOYS' MOCK ELECTION Unique Simultaneous Contest Held in Eleven Ohio Cities. Chicago Tribune. More than 6000 boys, between the ages of 12 and 21. in Ohio, voted for Taft. and nearly 3f.OO for Bryan, at a mock election held simultaneously in 11 cities of the Buckeye state re cently. In some of the cities the reg ular election booths were used by per mission of the Board of Elections, Boys filled the places of registrars, clerks and judges of election the organiza tion being complete, even to a state committee, which canvassed the re turns from the different cities. Fol lowing the election and the counting of the ballots a telegram was sent to Mr. Taft announcing the result. The object of the new plan was to train the buys, who are to be the vot ers of the future, for the duties of citizenship. The originator and the promoter of the plan is M. D. Crackel, secretary of the Cleveland West Side Boys' Club of the Young Men's Chris tian Association of Cleveland. The boys showed the greatest en thusiasm in every feature of the elec tion, and did all in their power to get out a full vote, even to running vehicles to and from the place of reg istration. In Precinct E of the First Ward, Cleveland, two boys ran an au tomobile all day carrying their boy friends to the registration booth. In another precinct four boys hired a horse and carriage, and In another a pony ant cart was used. Boys in dif ferent high schools vied with one an other in getting the largest number of their followers out. The average ward registration was 200, the largest num ber In any one ward 3S6. The number of wards in which the election was held in Cleveland was 2fi. one precinct polling place in each ward being used. The voting was not restricted to members of the boys' club, hut all boys who were residents' of the ward and who had registered were allowed to vote. Boys from the civic classes In stmas Year STREETS the schools acted as judges, clerks and registrars. In registering, each boy was asked his age. where he was born, and data as to his residence In the ward. He was also asked as to whether he was in school or employed. The bal lots used contained the names of all the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. No other officers were voted for. Each ballot bore a place for the name and registration number. Everything was done with the great est accuracy. On the boys' election day the polls were opened at 2 P. M. and remained open until 7:30. At times' there were many boys standing in line waiting to vote. It wan an unusual experience for them and they seemed to feel proud of the responsibility which had come to them. They were orderly, and the experiment of a boys' election, wher ever tried, was pronounced a decided success. We Sell on the positive guarantee that if it does not give sat isfaction we will return the entire amount of money paid us for it. We ask all those who are run-down, nervous, debili tated, aged or weak, and every person suffering from stubborn colds, hanging-on coughs, bronchitis or incipi ent consumption to try Vinol with this understanding. Woodard, Clarke & Co., Druggists Portland. Perfumed soaps sel dom contain either good perfume or good soap. If you want perfume, buy perfume the best you can afford. As for soap, there's nothing better than Ivory. No "free" alkali in it; no coloring matter; no adulterant of any kind. Ivory Soap 99 Koo Per Cent, lrure. 18 ATHLETES TO KEEP IX GOOD TRIM MUST LOOK WELL TO TUB CONDITION OF THE SKIN. TO THIS END THE BATH SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH HAND APOLSO AH Orocara and. Droffgisttv