INSURGENT HOPE
GROWING DIMMER
Taft Stock Looking
Up in West.
MESSAGE HAS MADE FRIENDS
Views on Trust Question Gen
erally Indorsed.
LA FOLLETTE MEN BUSY
Comment Favorln Pwldtnt Stirs
Wisconsin Man's Tws Agent to
RrMscd Efforts Leaders
Gather to Confer.
DT RI-MNITR CTRTIS
WASHINGTON". Dec. S. (Special.)
Members of the Republican National
committee are arriving- singly and by
twos and threea for the meeting to be
held nejit Tuesday. Other politicians,
drawn hither by the committee meet
In?, are adding- to the exhibit of President-makers
already Installed at the
Capitol. Tne round-up that will take
place next week promises to be little
short of a National convention In gath
ering the leaders great and small.
Just now the Taft stock Is higher
than It has been for some time. From
the West the visitors ' are bringing
stories of firmer Taft sentiment than
existed a few months or even a few
weeks back. These stories are sub
ject to denial by Insurgent antl-Taft
leaders, but as they have had their
turn and probably will have another
or several of them. It Is no more than
fair to pay syne attention to those
now more In evidence.
Taft Has Cam fur Joy.
There certainly la Joy at the White
House these days as a result of the
President's information from many lips
that there Is a steadily increasing
sentiment In his favor.
"Insurgency. Insofar as It means per
sonal opposition to President Taft, Is
losing strength In the West. declared
one of the prominent politicians who
arrived this evening.
"I am not making any predictions yet
as to what will happen in the election
next Fall, but as far a- the nomination
la concerned, the opposition to the
President is losing ground every day.
He has the LaFollette forces on the
run In some sections and there are
likely to be surprises In territory where
the Insurgents have been loudest in
their clajms aa to delegates.
Saaer Day Anttroarhlns;.
"The. messages which the President
already has sent to Congress . have
struck the people, favorably, and "pro
gressives' who are not blinded by parti
sanship, but who heretofore have had
doubts as t Taft's executive qualifica
tions, are beginning to think that gen
eral attack on him Is unwarranted. If
I am not mistaken in the signs, the in
surgent enthusiasm reached Its flood
somei time ago and there will come a
saner period aa the time approaches
for naming the National ticket. .
While statements of this kind are
cheering the President and his friends,
the La FoIIette campaign committee is
not letting up In Its efforts to ride
Taft out of the ranks, not only of the
. "progressives' but the "near-progressives."
Perturbed a bit. perhaps, by the fact
that the praise waa given to the trust
message by some of the Insurgent lead
ers on the day the message went to
Congress, the literary bureau has taken
it up with a view of tearing It to pieces.
What was interpreted at first as an
Indorsement of the La Follette bill to
protect trade and commerce further
against unlawful restraints and monop
olies Is now declared to be a "com
plete and half-hearted about-face of
the Administration to the position of
Senator La Follette and the "pro
gressives." "It is today In the position of advo
cating what yesterday was condemned,"
proclaims the La Follette press agent.
"What will it do tomorrow r
Taking the trust message aa a whole,
the La Follette managers now declare
that It Is not only "standpat and reac
tionary from beginning to end." but
that It is "worse than standpat and re
actionary." It is expected that when he takes to
the stump Senator La Follette will
elaborate an attack on the President
along this line. Just when the Sena
tor will start on his tour is a matter
enveloped In much mystery.
RATE CASES ON DOCKET
Karly Hearing by Supreme Court
Will Be Asked.
WASHINGTON. Dec S. The famous
Intermountaln rate cases. In which the
Commerce Court recently enjoined tem
porarily the Interstate Commerce Com
mission from enforcing Its long and
short haul orders, was docketed today
in the Supreme Court.
The cases involve the constitutional
ity and Interpretation of the 910 long
and short haul amendment to the In
terstate Commerce law. It is under
stood the Government will ask the
court to advance the case for an early
hearing.
I
DRESS SUIT COMES
IN NICK OF TIME
BILL-" IIAXLEY NEARLY MISSES
PRESIDENT'S DIXXER.
Oregonian "Glad Rags" Are Side
tracked, bnt Thoughtful Porter
Comes to Rescue.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Dec 8. This is the story of
"Bill" Hanleys dress suit: With the
Western Governors' special party, of
which he Is a member, the Oregon
rancher was invited to the dinner at
the White House last night, when
President Taft was host to the tour
ing executives. Mr. Hanley was there
in faultless evening attire, but. he
came near appearing in his pepper and
salt "sack suit for ouslness wear." or
remaining in his hotel disappointed.
Mr. Hanley cut loose from the Gov
ernors yesterday and took a side trip
over to New York. He csme through
to Washington late yesterday after
noon, unaware that the Governors"
car had been sidetracked at Baltimore.
There he was, without his glad rags,
and the hour for the dinner fast ap
proaching. There was no time to go to Balti
more for the needed raiment, and Han
ley sat in his hotel in deep gloom.
Rut ihnriw before the dinner hour
arrived, a package came. And, lo! it
contained his dress suit. The colored
nnrifp who looked after the needs or
the Western specialists had thought
fully forwarded it to mm.
Governor West. Senator Chamberlain
and Mr. Hanley were the Oregon
guests at President Taft's dinner. Sen
ator Bourne, though Invited, did not
put in an appearance, nor did several (
nihur extreme lnsursent feenators. rep
resentative Lafferty was absent. When
the guests gathered around the nue
House table, however, every place was
occupied.
rmintrlnr the dinner at the hits
Wnii most of the members of the
Governors' special went to the Na
tional Press Club, where an Inrormal
reception was held. Governor West
skipped this number, but Mr. Hanley
became Instantly one of the conspicu
ous figures, because of his strong re
semblance to William J. Bryan.
CAPTAIN DROPS ON BRIDGE
Ericsson, of the Central!, Diet as
He Gives Orders "To Sea."
HnoniW Wash Dec S. (Spe
cial.) Just as the steamer, at full
speed ahead, was about to plunge into
the high seas running on the bar, out
ward bound for San Irrancisco witn
rA m. rareo of lumber, to
day. Captain Charles Ericsson was
stricken with heart failure and dropped
dead on the bridge of his vessel, the
Centralis.
with a Vilc-H running and the
vessel in such a position that, had she
been a length ahead It would have been.
imnnnihlK to t u rii back- First Mate,
Chris Evansen took command and, or
dering full speed astern, brought th
iteamer out of her difficult position
ind back to Hoqulam, where she was
a im nt two minutes before he
was stricken Captain Ericsson, after
(vinff tn water on the bar. which.
was quite rough, decided to pass out.
and remarked to the mate. "We'll go
ahead."
Evansen went down to the deck and
lad no more than reached It when the
captain fell dead.
rantiin Ericsson, whose home was In
San Pedro, Is survived by bis widow
nd two children.
WIFE AND HUBBY CONVICT
Couple on Same Taoonia Jury At
tract Attention at Trial.
TACOMA. Wash., Dec. . "We voted
together from the very first and I
guess we thought Just alike all along,"
said Mrs. Gideon Frailer, 1722 Ferry
avenue, who with her husband sat
three days on the same Jury and helped
return a verdict convicting Meyer
Cohen of embezzlement from the
Moose Lodge.
It was the first time a husband and
wife, have served on the same Jury rn
this state, possibly In the country, and
the couple were the center of attrac
tion for many who visited the trial.
Frasier has lived in Tacoma mora than
25 years, being most of the time in
police and detective service.
BACON THEORIST STUBBORN
Search for Library Will Be Contln
ued if It Takes 40 Years.
LONDON. Dec. 8. Dr. Orvllle Owen,
of Detroit, who early In pie year con
ducted excavations In the River
for manuscripts which he bvlleved.
would establish that Bacon was the
author of the Shakespearan plays, later
abandoning them, will sail for Amer-?
lea tomorrow.
He says that he will find the boxes
containing Bacon's library if he has tp
return to England every year for thjo
next 40 years.
AVIATOR SHOOTS 5 BIRD'S
Three Blackbirds and Two Sparrow
Victims of Aerial Marksmen.
M1NEOLA. N. Y Dec 8. Flying In
a biplane with Lee Hammond as pilot.
William Slmonson- shot three blank
birds today with as many shots tram
a 11-gauge gun.
Two sparTows, sitting on a branch,- of
a tree, also' fell victom to Slmocscfn'a
marWmanshlp, k
HOPE IS SEEN FOR
IRRIGATION 'PLAN
Fisher Looks With Fa
vor on Oregon.
HONEY MAY BE FORTHCOMING
Way Appears, Though Secre
tary "Reserves Decision.
PROTESTS NOT REGARDED
"West Umatilla Project Gains Xevr
Hope as Result of Conference.
Settlers' Rights Will Xot
Be Overridden.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Dc. 8. While Secretary Fisher
declined In any way to commit himself
or the Government to the construction
of the West Umatilla Irrigation proj
ect, members of the Oregon delegation
and Governor West, with, whom he
talked for an hour today, came away
impressed that they are making gains
in their fight for the adoption of this
project and all seem to feel that ulti
mately the project will be approved.
It became known at today's confer
ence that money can be found In some
quarter for beginning the construction
of the West Umatilla project If it
should be adopted, but In all probabil
ity construction would proceed slowly
Cor the first two or three years.
Vested Right I'ndlstorbed.
Secretary Fisher said that before
committing himself, he wanted to go
over reports that will be forwarded to
Washington soon, showing the con
dition of water filings on the Umatilla
River and its tributaries and determine
positively how much water is actually
available for the Government project.
It Is explained there is no purpose
whatever to interfere with the vested
-water rights of any settler along the
"Umatilla River, but at the same time
the state has undertaken to see that
no land-owner holds more water than
he can use beneficially.
The state In fact has undertaken to
adjust all water rights along this river
and expects to complete this task by
next Spring.
Protests Carry Little Weight.
Secretary FlBher is psylng llt'.le heed
to protests that have come to him from
Eastern Oregon objecting to the adop
tion of the West Umatilla project, for
he is aware that the sentiment In the
state Is overwhelmingly favorable to
construction by the Government, espe
cially as this is the only project In
Oregon that can be undertaken by the
Government for several years to come.
While Its construction might Interfere
Concluded on Pas a.)
BBBB
m -?v v u i m i Cr.. arc- ua"n i
'O f&& JjMg . bbbrp
ANNUAL HELPS BUILD UP
OREGON.
One of the greatest influences
in attracting settlers to this state
has been The Oregonian Annual.
With the first of each year many
thousand copies of this publica
tion are sent throughout the coun
try, to every state and territory,
and across the oceans. The An
nual is planned each year to pre
sent to the world the advantages
of Oregon. It is a magnet to
draw people here to open up new
land, to increase the products of
the soil, to add to and share in our
wealth. It has never failed of its
mission.
When colonist rates were in ef
fect on the railroads last Spring
thousands of people came into the
state. This newspaper interviewed
a great many of them, and asked
the question, "Why did you
comet" No 6mall proportion of
the replies were that the newcom
ers had been attracted by The
Oregonian Annual.
The Annual to be issued Jan
uary 1, 1912, will be a creditable
number in this scries of special
editions, now published for 30
years. It will be thorough, relia
ble and interesting. Railroads,
commercial clubs and the public
will send it out to spread Ore
gon's fame. Every citizen should
do his part by mailing the Annual
to friends who might become in
terested in Oregon.
This big edition will be sold for
5 cents a copy. Postage in the
United States, Canada, Mexico
and the insular possessions, 5
cents. Foreign postage, 10 cents.
i
HOME BANKS GAIN AGAIN
Portland Clearings Show 5.5 Per
Cent Increase for Week.
Nearly all the large cities in the
country showed an increase In bank
clearings this weeK over the corre
sponding week of 1910. Portland's to
tals amounted to $12,670,000, making a
gain of 6.6 per cent. The clearings at
Seattle were $12,926,000 and at Los An
geles the clearings were $20,416,000.
San Francisco shows a big increase,
the totals in that city being $58,701,000.
Tacoma made a gain of 4.4 per cent,
with clearings aggregating $4,683,000.
Spokane was the only large city on the
Coast which reported a loss. The totals
of that city were $5,033,000, with a de
crease of .7 per cent.
SIGHT IS VALUED AT $800
Though Man Would Settle for $100
Cash, Commission Declines.
OLTMFIA, Wash., Dec. 7. Charles
W. Strine, of Olympia. who probably
will lose his eight by being struck in
the right eye by a piece of stone while
working for a contract company, called
on the State Industrial Insurance Com
mission and offered to settle for $100
cash. He wishes to go to Michigan.
The commission refused to accept the
compromise and voted to pay him $250
on account and will pay him $550 more
in case his sight Is totally destroyed.
WATCHING THE PROCESSION.
BOARD FINDS !i
DESTROYED MAINE
Low Explosive, NotTor
pedo Used.
REPORT ADDS TO MYSTERY
Earlier Report of Attack on
Outside Confirmed.
MAGAZINE THEN EXPLODED
Fact That Destructive Agent Must
Have Required Services of Scv
. eral Men in Placing Is Puz
zle to Experts.
WASHINGTON. Dec, 8. The United
States battleship Maine, sunk in Havana
Harbor in February, 1898,. as a result
of an explosion, was blown up from
the outside. This was announced to
day by the Naval Board that has been
examining the wreck. The finding con
firms the report of the original in
vestigators, who made a superficial ex
amination of the wreck soon after the
disaster.
The statement was given out by the
Navy Department in brief. Secretary
Meyer does not believe it necessary to
Issue any extended explanation of the
board's conclusions beyond the flat
statement that an exterior explosion
wn. responsible for the loss of the
warship and the lives or many men.
Explosive Placed on Outside.
The statement follows:
"The board found that the injuries
to the bottom of the Maine were caused
by the explosion of a charge of low
form of explosives exterior to the ship,
between frames 28 and 31, strake B,
port side.
"This resulted in igniting and ex
ploding the contents of the six-Inch
rva magazine. A-14-M. said con
tents including a large quantity of
black powder.
"The more or less complete explosion
of the contents of the remaining for
ward magazine followed.
"The magazine explosion resulted in
the destruction of the vessel."
Torpedo Theory Rejected.
Secretary Meyer announced that there
might be a further statement on the
report of the board after It had been
considered by the President. One mem
ber of the board was of the opinion
that the report never would be pub
lished in full. The declaration that "a
low form of explosive" was used in the
outside explosion, indicates the belief
that a mine, not a dirigible torpedo,
was the instrument of destruction.
This only deepens the mystery of the
destruction of the Maine. A mine.
(Concluded on Page 2.)
WEST'S PERSONAL
OPINIONS WASTED
HILIi SATS EAST WANTS TO
KNOW ABOUT OREGON.
Time "Frittered Away" on Gover
nors' Special Airing Views on
Political Questions.
ST. CLOUD, Minn., Dec. 8. (Special.)
Western Governors who are talking
politics and not exploiting the natural
resources of their country on the Gov
ernors' Special, were taken to task this
afternoon by Louis W. Hill, president
of the Great Northern Railroad, at
the meeting of the Northern Minnesota
Development League. He declared that
some of them were talking politics in
the. East, where their brand of politics
was of no Interest, and that the Great
Northern road had been receiving in
quiries about the natural resources of
their states while the Governors dis
coursed on these subjects.
Hill created a sensation when he
criticised some of the Governors who
were now showing the East the West.
He directed his criticism especially to
Governor West of Oregon, who has
been one of the principal spellbinders
for the Governors' Special.
"Some of the Governors," he said.
"are exploiting their states, but, what
Is to be regretted, others are talking
politics and especially the politics of
their own states, with which the East
Is little concerned.
"The Governor of Oregon is fritter
lng away his time telling the East
what he knows about woman suffrage
and airing his personal views on other
public questions. What does the East
cdre for them? In forgetting his state,
that fellow is overlooking a big bet;
he is exploiting himself rather than
his state."
TRUCKS JUMP, TEAR TRACK
Xorth Bank Repair Gang Has Job of
1 5 Miles Distance.
BINGEN, Wash., Dec. 8. (Special.)
What might have proved a serious
accident occurred last night on the
North Bank road, when a pair of
trucks on one of the cars of a freight
train Jumped the track at Hood and
was not discovered until the train
reached Lyle, a distance of 15 miles.
The trucks tore out the cattle
guards, crossings, switches, cut fish
plates and broke ties the whole dis
tance. Trains are all late and a large
gang is at .work making repairs.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 51
degrees; minimum, 43 degrees.
TODAY'S Occasional Jight rain; southwest
erly .winds.
Foeeign. '
Eight thousand Manchus are slain by Chi
nese; American among foreigners killed.
Page 4. .
National.
House debates bill to pension all Civil War
veterans. Page .
Northwest presents claims before rivers and
harbors committee. Page 2.
Conference with I"isher revives hoDe for
Government irrigation in Oregon. Page 1.
Naval Board finds Maine was destroyed by
mine, not torpedo, from outside of ves
sel. Page 1.
President and Cabinet Bee no adequate solu
tion of Russian passport question. Pago 14.
PMltlcal.
Message makes friends; Taft stock looking
up in- West. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Better undertone In local wheat and flour
markets. Page 10.
Wheat advances at Chicago on reports of
storm damage tn Argentina. Page l!l.
Bear attack carrias down prices of stocks.
Page 18.
Iron and steel tisade active in all lines.
Page 18.
Plan to arbitrate dfspute over 30-cent cargo
charges fails. Page IS.
Domestic.
Miss Swope testifies to treatment by Dr.
Hyde. Page 3.,
Lillian Graham's slobs halt trial; letters are
introduced. Pate 3.
Edison Invents concrete furniture, artistic,
durable and cruap. Page '-.
Karsas Governor .asked to hurry woman's
$50,000 damage suits against Methodists.
Page 3. I
Eckhoff's confession expected to reveal
"higher-ups" in dynamite plots. Page 1.
Labor leaders may prevail on MeNamara
brothers to bnnk silence. Page 5.
Baltimore entertains Governors. Pago 5.
F. W. Hill says West wastes time on Gov
ernors' special talking politics. Page 1.
Dress suit arrives lo time and "Hill" Hanley
attends dinner. Page 1.
Snorts.
The Dalles High School defeats Pendleton
High 22 to tf and wins Eastern Oregon
football championship. Page S.
"Bill" Hayward. of Oregon, will train Mult
nomah eleven fo holiday games. Page 8.
Important baseball meetings begin today in
New York. Page 8.
Coast League mannpers unchanged. Page 6.
Pacific, Jfortbwest.
Aberdeen ousts vaisguard of I. W. W. from
city. Pago 6.
Attorney-General gftses opinion declaring re.
call 'amendment - to Oregon constitution
inoperative. Paae 7.
Two women on SeatfJIe Jury to settle aliena
tion of affection suit, page t.
Eugene Commercial Club extends hospitality
in new home, page 7.
Ex-Federal Court derk of Western Wash
ington charged with fee embezzlement of
SIS, 000. Page 1.
Paroled negro convtct who attacked Dallas
woman sentencutV Page b.
Portland and Vicinity.
Dr. James Withycombe. back from tour, says
Oregon Agricultural College compares
favorably with leading institutions.
Page 18.
Minstrel show given by Scout Young Camp
at Heillg is success. Page 4.
State dairymen urgei re-enactment of bill
vetoed by West. Page 12.
Eminent engineers engaged by dock com
mission scrutinize, river to select dock
site. Page 12.
Street committee strcjps Improvement on all
streets where cost may exceed assessed
valuation of propnrty. Page V.
Pacific Great Western Railway listed as
"promoters' scheme" by Southern Pacific.
, Page 9.
City is temporarily issstralned from accept
ing and paying for new crematory.
Page 12.
Prosecution says girl" story and other testi
mony weave net around merchant accused
of leading her astray. Page 14.
Last awards in poultry show to be made to
day Page 14
FINGER POiNTS AT
DYNAMITE CHIEFS
Eckhoff Expected to
Complete Evidence.
MORE ARRESTS WILL FOLLOW
Testimony of Go-Between Is
of Extreme Value.
M'NAMARA SECRETS TOLD
Raymond Burns Says Absence of
Motive Adds Strength to Con
fession Xot Imparted to
That of McManlgal.
CHICAGO. Dec. 8. (Special.) Ray
mond Burns, manager of W. J. Burns'
detective agency in Chicago, said to
day that Frank Eckhoff, of Cincinnati,
who was expected to be the star wit
ness In the MeNamara case, would be
extremely valuable to the Federal
grand jury and that his testimony
would reveal the "higher ups" In the
dynamiting conspiracy.
As a result of his arrest the appre
hension of other men Is expected soon.
Eckhoff was the go-between who car
ried messages from the McNamaraa
and their employers when even the
mail and telegraph were considered
unsafe. Burns related many facts
not hitherto made public and others
that at no time have been more than
unverified rumors.
Eckhoff Used as Messenger.
"Frank Kckhoff," he said, "was a
neighbor of the McNamaras In Cum-'
mingsville and was a boyhood play
mate of Jim. Both Jim and John
trusted him Implicitly and after the
Los Angeles explosion John MeNamara
wanted to communicate with Jim, who
was then In San Francisco, but did not
dare write a letter or Send even a ci
pher telegram. So John MeNamara
sent for Eckhoff and told him where
Jim was. 'Go tell him to get out of
San Francisco,' he said, 'but not to
come back here. Tell him to got a
job as a printer somewhere.'
"Well, when Eckhoff got to Pan
Francisco Jim was so full of the ex
plosion, so to speak, and so much
wrought up over the killing of 21 per
sons, that he told Eckhoff all about it.
Naturaly Eckhoff was astonished and
asked a lot of questions. He learned
all about McManlgal and his written,
confession corroborated everything
McManlgal told us.
Testimony of Great Value.
"We were shadowing every man Jim
MeNamara and Ortie McManlgal met
and were put on Eckhoff's trail at once.
Our investigation showed how close he
was to the McNamaras and we started
In to get that confession. I cannot
tell Just how we got the confession
from Eckhoff, but you may depend on
it that nothing was left out. He cor
roborated every single detail of what
McManlgal said.
"Now the value of Eckhoff's testi
mony before the grand Jury will be
great, for he can have no motive for
shielding himself. McManigal's con
fession was complete, but his motive
was obvious. I can say that more
men will be arrested as the result of
Eckhoff's testimony. The case will
be cleaned up. Every guilty man and
every man having guilty knowledge
will be brought to justice."
When questioned as to where Eck
hoff was being held. Burns was silent,
He would not tell whether It was In
Cincinnati or some other city. He said
that an operative was with Eckhoff
every minute, even eating with him
and sleeping in the same room with
him.
WASHINGTON' DIRECTS PROBE
Attorney-General's Office In Toucb
With Two Grand Juries.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. Charles W.
Miller, United States District Attor
ney at Indianapolis, today discussed
the alleged extensive dynamiting con
spiracy now being investigated by tlio
Federal grand Jury at Indianapolis,
with Assistant Attorney-General Harr.
Department officials declined to di
vulge the details of the conference.
Mr. Miller left In the afternoon for In
dianapolis. The conference accentuates the fact
that the office of the Attorney-General
is directly conducting the Federal in
vestigations at both Indianapolis and
Los Angeles. Mr. Wickersham had
assumed personal charge of the in
quiry until he was taken ill a few days
ago and since that time he has com
mitted the entire case to Assistant Attorney-General
Harr, who has been
identified with the investigation since
its inception.
DARROW'S COURSE APPROVED
San Francicso Labor Council Adopts
MeNamara Resolutions.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8. Repudia
tion of all acts of violence committed
In the name of organized labor, a de
mand for a full investigation of all
rumors connecting labor leaders with
the Los Angeles dynamiting case and
kindred cases, and the assertion that
.(Concluded on Page 4.)