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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1914)
K VOL. LIIi:- NO. 16,579. PORTLAND, OREGON. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, ,1914. PRICE FIVE CENTS V IS OUSTED BY FORGE Appeal Made to Gover nor of Washington. HOME BURNED, SAYS VICTIM Bitter Feud Starts Over Home stead Contest. SONS TRIED FOR ASSAULT 3Irs. Margaret Ross, Who Achieved Notoriety as Democratic Politi cian, Says She "Will Return, ; Despite Threat on Life. ABERDEEN, Wash., Jan. 12. Driven from her homestead 12 miles from here by a. masked band of 16 men last night. Mrs. Margaret M. Ross, well known Democratic politician, today sent an appeal to Governor Lister for protection and announced that she and her family would return to their home as soon as she received assurances from the authorities that she would not be molested. According to the account told by Mrs. Ross, the 16 men, all masked and armed, forced their way into the house, removed her and her two sons and after setting: fire to the place drove them 12 miles and ordered them not to return under penalty of death. Son, Are Involved. The trouble began some time ago, . when Mrs. Ross' right to the claim was denied. Her two sons were then accused of assaulting a neighbor for alleged slander of their mother, leaving him for dead on the road. They were tried and convicted on an assault charge, but succeeded in getting a new trial. A bitter feud in the neighbor hood resulted. Mrs. Ross was Democratic candidate for State Representative from Chehalis County in the Fall of 1918 and tumped the state in the interest of the Democratic ticket. Campaign Cot Short. She gained prominence In the cam paign by making addresses which, while ostensibly in aid of the Demo cratic ticket, were bitter attacks on the personal habits and character of Theodore Roosevelt. The Democratic State Central Committee withdrew its Indorsement and her campaign speeches were cut short. The incident gave her a good deal of prominence in the state at that time. Help Call Cancelled. Mrs. Ross telephoned the police here tonight declaring that she was sur rounded in the home of W. D. McCor- mick, 12 miles from the scene of last night's escapade, and asked that a posse be sent to' her assistance. Her request was countermanded - shortly aiterward by Mrs. McCormlck, wtio said ine situation was under control. The police here could not act nor could n Sheriff Mathews, because the McCor mlck home is in Pacific County, is Is also the Ross ranch, where the imldent occurred last night. The trouble last night Is due prob ably to a feud which started when the Ross family went into the district. It is charged that Mrs. Ross and her sons "Jumped" a homestead, said, on account of Its timber, to be worth $30,000. This she denies. Nillkbor'a House Dialled. The Immediate cause of the Sunday night row Is declared to have been the damage to the Vanderpool ranch house, near the Ross homestead, by a' falling tree cut down by the Ross boys. They were charged with having felled the tree across the Vanderpool house. They deny the charge and say the wind took it in the direction of the Vanderpool house and they could not prevent it. This incident, however, it is said, led to the formation of the force which went to the Ross house, marched out the occupants and burned the house and woodshed. "I am going back tomorrow," Mrs. Ross telephoned from the McCormlck house tonight. "Prowlers were about the bouse In the early part of the even ing. They have gone now and I think I'm safe for tonight anyway. I am go ing back tomorrow and fight this thing through. Sheriff Mathews says he will send Mrs. Ross help If she is molested in Chehalis County. MRS.. RCSS' REQUEST IS DEXIED uovernor Refers Homesteader to Sheriff for Protection. OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 12. (Special.) Governor Lister this morning re ceived a telephone message from Mrs. Margaret M. Ross, who was at North McCormicks, asking his protection from a crew of vigilantes, whom she said had ousted her from a claim she was holding in Pacific County and marched her north several miles through the mud, refusing to allow her to return. Governor Lister advised Mrs. Ross to appeal to the Sheriff of Pacific County. Late in the day a second appeal for help was received. Mrs. Ross declaring the vigilantes would not allow her to cross the line into Pacific County, mak ing it imposslbe for her to reach the Sheriff. Governor Lister repeated his earlier advice, holding he had no au thority to act. and that the case should be handled by county authorities. W0f! A MASKED NEAR GLOUD BURST HITS SAN FRANCISCO STREETS AXD STORES FLOODED AXD TRAFFIC IS HALTED. Sandbag Dikes Are Thrown Up as Sewers Break or Cave In Snow Falls In Northern California. SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 12. (Special.) A downpour with the force of a cloudburst struck San Francisco today, flooding streets, cellars, stores, tying up traffic and for the moment paralys ing the life of the city. The downpour, which gave San Fran cisco .2 of an inch of rain in 10 min utes, one of the heaviest short-period falls of years, was part of a' storm which is battering the Pacific Coast. A terrific snow storm is raging from Tehama County north to Oregon. From Red Bluff southward there were heavy rains, heading for South ern California. At sea shipping was menaced, sev eral ships being driven to return to port by the heavy sea running on the bar. Within a short time of the heaviest downpour, hundreds of reports or broken sewers or cave-ins were re ceived at the Board of Works. Market and Seventh streets was the center of a lake. Besides damage to store basements, the main floors of whole blocks of business houses were covered an inch deep with silt and water. The cars on many streets were held up for half an hour, due to a flood of sand and debris which the storm washed over the tracks. At Sutter and Fillmore dikes of sandbags were thrown up hurriedly. From Sutter to McAllister, boxes and garbage cans floated away in a tor rent that filled the street from door step to doorstep and flooded many places of business. "ELSIE DAY" ARRAIGNED Former Oregon Girl Hobo Charged With Robbery and Freed. DES MOINES, la., Jan. 12. (Spe cial.) Mai:d Clark, who, under the name of Elsie Day, beat her way with her brother, Al. Clark, from Spokane, Wash., to Des Moines, a month ago, and for two days was thought to have been the victim of murder, when her bloodstained clothing was found in a boxcar at Aurora, 111., was arraigned in police court here today, charged with robbery. Her brother also was accused with her of robbing a house, and will be tried tomorrow. The charges against the girl were withdrawn and she will be sent back to her adopted parents in Washington. - CITYV0FF1CEG0ES TO GIRL Miss Ida Woods, Clerk, Defeats New. berg Recorder of 10 Years. NEWBERG, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Newberg today elected, through a large vote of ' the women, Miss Ida Woods, a store clerk, as Recorder, over W. W. Nelson, who has held the posi tion for ten years. She won by 68 votes. J. P. Colcord was elected Mayor. The women were out in force and made good1 use of their right of fran chise for their favorites. W. S. Wharton, banker, was elected Treasurer, and the following were selected as Councilmen: First Ward, Harland Smith: Second, Howard Wil liams; Third, George James. R0SEBURG MAN CANDIDATE George 31. Brown Aspires to Office of Attorney-General. ROSE BURG, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) George M. - Brown, for the past 15 years Prosecuting Attorney lor wis district, tonight announced he would be a candidate for Attorney-General of Oregon at the general election to be held in November. District Attorney Brown was busy in court today, but said he would prepare his formal announcement within the next few days. Mr. Brown is a Re publican and is one of the most widely-known lawyers in the state. He is president of the Douglas County Bar Association and is affiliated with nu merous other local organizations. GALE SHAKESASHLAND UP Several Places Damaged and Slight Injuries Result. ASHLAND, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) High winds today upset fruit stands at the depot, smashed cider Jars, blew down a tree at the home of F. G. Mc Wllliams, on Church street, crushed the roof, demolished two chimneys and damaged the dining-room. The Oregon- California Power Company's line in the valley suffered to some extent. A shoe shop in the suburbs turned turtle and there were minor Injuries about town. The gale from the east began two days ago and reached its greatest ve locity this morning. DIPLOMAT DINES SAYRES President's Sister Also at Luncheon of Ambassador Herrlck. PARIS, Jan. 12. Francis Bowes Sayre and bis wife, formerly Miss Jessie .Woodrow Wilson, were compli mented today at a luncheon given by Ambassador and Mrs. Myron T. Her rlck. Mrs. Anna Wilson-Howe, of Philadelphia, a sister of the Presi dent, was among the guests. Mr. and Mrs. Sayre. according to their present plans, will sail for New Xork on Wednesday on board the Ma. Jestlo from Cherbourg. COOLEY BOOMER 0 MURDER CHARGE Bail Fixed at $50,000 for Old Crime. RELATIVES-TO FURNISH BOND Banker Offered to F"ay $500 for Killing, Says Witness. EX-CASHIER ON THE STAND Son of Dead Man Also Testifies at Curry County Hearing Prisoner Identified as Man Who Re ceived Money After Crime. GOLDBEACH, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) Following his preliminary hearing today on a charge of having murdered Thomas Van Pelt near Chetco, Curry County, February 19, 1898, A. R. Cooley was bound over to the grand Jury with bonds fixed at $50,000. Cooley's rela tives announced that the bonds would be furnished. Sensational developments marked the hearing. J, W. Higgins, an accountant of Spokane, testified that he was as sistant cashier of the Second National Bank of Colfax, Wash., in 1897 and 1898; that in the Fall of 1897 Alfred Cooledge, president of the bank, re turned from a trip to Curry County, Or., where his brother had been shot, and said to Higglns: "I will give you or any one $500 to go down to Oregon and kill off that Van Pelt outfit." Rifle Kept at Bank. Higglns said that in the latter part of February, 1898, he received a Portland paper telling of the shooting of Van Pelt and that about March 1, 1898, A. R. Cooley appeared in the bank at Col fax dressed in his mountain clothes, with rifle and cartridge belt. Coolidge Introduced Cooley to Hig glns, as Higglns said, and paid him $100 in his presence. "Coolidge then took Cooley to a clothing store and bought him a . suit of new -clothes," said Higgins. "Cooley spent several days around the bank, leaving his rifle and belt there. Later Alfred Coolidge gave me a package of money and a rifle and asked me to give them to Cooley at an address in Spokane, stating the value of the package and rifle wai $600. He asked me to ship them by express, as he said he did not want Cooley seen carrying them." Hlggtna Identifies Man. Higgins said he asked Coolidge if Cooley was the maiKWho "got his man" in Oregon, to which Coolidge made.no reply, and turned awoy. Higglns pos itively Identified Cooley as the man to whom the money was paid by Coolidge. John Van Pelt, son of the murdered (Concluded on Page 4.) INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 43 degrees; minimum, 45 degrees. TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds. Foreign. All workers expected to Join strike In South Africa, Page 4. . National. President announces anti-trust law and rural credits next big issue. Page 4. Many abills pile np as Congress reconvenes. Page 3. Xtomestlc. "Mother" Jones is arrested by Colorado militia. Page 5. East of Rockies Winter is King. Page S. Race betterment conference declares for eugenic selection of parents. Page 3. Strikers desert as Winter falls in Michigan. Page 6. Near cloudburst paralyzes San Francisco for short time. Page 1. Eleanor Guggenheim bride of Roger Straus. Page 2. United States to-shelter and feed defeated Huerta army. Page 2. Sports. Mike Gibbons knocks out Bob McAllister in seventh round of ten-round bout. Page 14. National League coDtract sent . to Tinker. Page 14. Buddy Ryan says Major League castoffs will go to outlaws. Page 14. New rule puts new deflnltfon on who Is an amateur in tennla Page 14. Pacific Northwest. Aberdeen woman driven from homestead by masked force. Pag 1. Jurisdiction of court denied by Governor's counsel at Baker. Page 5. Hard Jobs at low wage Is Salem prospect for L W. W. Page 1. Cooley held on preliminary hearing at Gold beach for Van Pelt murder. Page 1. Commercial and Marine. Grain buyers forced to raise limits to se cure wheat. Pago IS. Fears of cold wave damage causes higher wheat prices at Chicago. Page 15. Wall street bond market strong and higher. Page 15. Tug Onconta joins In search for water logged schooner Wm. F. Gum Page 11. Crew of wrecking steamer laq.ua are safe on way to port. Page 11. Portland and Vicinity. Gerllnger defense rests and case soon will go to Jury. Page 10. Six-for-a-quarter car ride ordinance void. Federal Court holds. Page 1. Federal reserve bank hearing to be set ahead, possloly to January 30. Page 16. Society folk dance at party which excels all previous affairs. Page 8. Two women, alleged to be store thieves. are arrested, page St. Income tax forms being mailed by Col lector Miller, page 8. Governor's signature completes contract for Interstate bridge. Page 8. O. - M. Plummer leaves on trip to act as representative or naiz dozen institutions. Page H. Syllabus of election law is prepared by county viera. face ru. Lawyer charges published stories prejudice Jury against alleged fake Masons. Page 7. Dismissal of leaders is setback to newly formed firemen's association. Page 10. Mantell successfully interprets character of King John, page 4. William Hoskins shot by robbers in his home in St. Johns. Page 1. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 16, STATE HEADS ARRESTED Application of Eight-Hour Law to Oregon .Institutions Being Tested." SALEM, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) For the first time in the history of the state the Governor, Secretary of State and Statu Treasurer were nominally ar rested today. As members of the State Board of Control they are charged with working men at the state insti tutions longer than eight hours daily Complaints were filed by James Crawford, representing Mr. Hoff, and copies were served on the defendants John McNary. their attorney, immedi ately applied to the Supreme Court for a. writ of habeas corpus, and the case will be heard probably next week. THE COLONEL IS SEEING THINGS. DO VOU k SE lWVAY 'PlV ' I I SEE n) BIG JOBS, LOW PAY 1SI.VV.VV. PROSPECT Second Army Plans to Enter Salem. STUMP PULLING ONLY CHANGE Some Refuse to Work and Complaint Made on Food. GOVERNOR GIVES ALL MEAL West's Action In Employ ins 4 TJn known to Others of State Board Causes Dissension and State May Not Give More Aid. SALEM, Or., Jan. 12. (Special.) That the I. W. W. of Portland who plan making the capital of the state their Mecca will find rough sledding in Salem was indicated today when the State 'Board of Control decided that with the exception of possibly 30 or 40 men, the best that could be done' would be Jobs for a part of them pulling stumps on state property for three good meals a day and a small wage. The Board did not even make a defl nite decision on this proposition, and it may be at a meeting which has been called for tomorrow that the men will be told emphatically that nothing can be done for them. Another Army Threatens Entry. The Board had been informed before the meeting that In addition to about 100 men in the city, at least 100, and probably 200 more, had left Portland, headed in this direction. One of the leaders of the "army" here declared that BOO men would ar rive before the end of the week, and that they Would insist that they be taken care of. It became evident today the charge that many of the men do not want work and will not work, was well founded. Governor West without con sulting the other members of the Board of Control early in the morning put 40 of the men to work at., various state institutions. Some Refuse to Work, Ten who were sent to the Feeble Mi nded Institute, partook of a good dinner, announced that the proffered accommodations were not satisfactory and marched back to the city. Others sent to the State Fairgrounds took little Interest in the work, and evident ly were glad when the day's labor was finished. State Treasurer Kay objected to Gov ernor West sending the men to the state Institutions to work without con sulting the other members of the Board (Concluded on Page 2.) THIEF SHOOTS MAN IN ST. JOHNS HOME WILLIAM HOSKIXS IS FELLED AFTER FIGHT WITH TWO. In Tussle With Robbers, Stove Is Upset and House Takes Fire. Victim in Hospital. William Hoskins was shot last night by one of two burglars whom he found in his home on Willamette Boulevard, near Cook street. St. Johns, about 12 o'clock last night, and the Hoskins home was damaged by fire which was started during a hand-to-hand encoun ter with the robbers. Hoskins is at Good Samaritan Hospital and is said to be seriously hurt. Immediately on entering his home and finding the intruders, Mr. Hoskins strrted to give battle. The men soon upset a kerosene stove, which set the house afire. With the heat of the flames endan gering them, one of the burglars drew his revolver and sent a bullet Into the left breast of Mr. Hoskins. The rob bers then fled. The police have descriptions of the two men and continued their search for them at an early hour this morn ing. Hoskins is a painter and has a wife and four children. TRAFFIC WILL BE WARNED Semaphores Will Signal Approach of Fire Apparatus. Within two weeks pedestrians on the streets will be warned of the approach of fire apparatus by means of sema phores, resembling those used by rail roads.. The devices arrived in the city yesterday and will be Installed as soon as possible. The signal blades are six feet long and will be placed on poles 19 feet high. When a fire engine approaches the blade will drop and display bright red lights and a siren whistle will be put Into operation. That will be the signal for vehicles to get out of the way. The semaphores will be installed first at First and Morrison, Third and Oak, Fifth and Oak. Fourth and Mor rison, Union avenue and Russell street, Williams avenue and Russell street. Fourth and Washington. VOLCANO WRECKS ISLAND Xew Craters Break Following Ernp . tlon in New Hebrides. VICTORIA, Jan. 12. The entire western part of the Island of Ambrym, New Hebrides, has been devastated by volcanic eruption, -according to news brought by the Canadian-Austrian liner Makura. Word was received at Sydney prior to the departure of the Makura that on December 6 six new craters were observed in active erup tion, and on the following day Mount Minnie collapsed. Inhabitants of the danger zone were compelled to take refuge in boats, which they had hardly reached when two new craters burst, overwhelming the countryside, with lava on its way to the sea. Villages on the southern coast were abandoned. No loss of life was reported. BAPTISMS HELD IN RIVER Seventy-One Apostolic Converts En ter Chill Waters With Song. Seventy-one converts tof the Apostolic Faith, which has Quarters at Burnside and Front streets, were baptized yester day afternoon at the foot of Division street in the Willamette River. Mrs. Crawford, the leader in charge of the mission, conducted the services, as sisted by Elder Itobins and others. All were completely immersed. Tents had been pitched on the sand beach and were warmed by means of portable oil stoves, but the enthusiastic converts went down into the cold water with songs on their lips. Besides the converts there was a large attendance of adherents of the faith present. WOMEN'S RATIO IS BETTER Registrations for Day Show East Side Maintaining Heavy Lead. Women voters made a proportional gain yesterday when for the first time the ratio of registration was less than five to one in favor of the men. Yes terday 431 men registered and 105 women. The total to date Is. 2726 men and 505 women. The East Side continues to lead, 356 Fast Side voters registering yesterday, compared with 160 West Side voters and 20 outsiders. ' Yesterday's registration of 536 was the largest in a single day. TIDAL WAVE HITS CALLA0 Earthquake Also Felt at Seaport but No Deaths Reported. LIMA Peru, Jan. 12. The seaport of Callao was inundated today by a tidal wave, accompanied at 1:15 this morn ing by an earthquake, lasting 65 sec conds. No loss of life is reported. The naval school at Lapunta and some of the hotels were flooded. No similar Inundation has occurred there since 1876. Forester Starts on Tour. WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. Albert F. Potter, assistant forester of the United States, left here today on a two months' tour of investigation in Western and Southern National forest districts. He will visit Denver, San Francisco and Missoula, Mont., headquarters of the forest service SIX-FOR-A-QUARTER GAR RIDE ACT VOID Federal Court Rules State Sets Rates. INJUNCTION IS CONTINUED Recourse Is to Make Appeal to Utilities Body. CHARTER ALSO AFFECTED Section Under Which Daly Ordinance Conies Is Invalid, Judge Bean Holds, Citing Conflict With Statute of Oregon. -V SAIXEN'T POINTS IJf BEAN'S RULING. JUDGE General state law Is paramount to city ordinance. With the public utilities act and the slx-for-a-quarter ordinance both In effect, the local traction company could not obey either without violat ing the other. A public service corporation, hav ing filed its schedule of rates with the State Kallroad Commission, can not change them without violating the public utilities act. Federal Courts have jurisdiction In public utility rate cases where the contention Is made that a rate sought to be established Is confiscatory. Alterations In public utility rites must be made by the Etato Railroad Commission. "Home rule" by cities in the matter of regulation of rates to- be charged by public service corporations, as at tempted in the Daiy ordinance pro viding that the Portland Railway. Light & Power Company snould sell six fares for 25 cents within the city, was de clared illegal by Robert S. Bean, Judge of the United States District Court, in an oral ruling render eel yesterday. The ruling came on the motion of Lyman E. Latourette, assistant City Attorney, to dismiss the suit brought by the company to restrain the enforce ment of the ordinance on the ground that the United States District Court had no Jurisdiction. Court Han J a rind let loa. Judge Bean ruled that his court has the requisite Jurisdiction, for the rea son that four of the contentions made in the company's bill of complaint. If sustained, would make the enforcement of the ordinance unconstitutional. These contentions were that the ordl. nance would be "confiscatory" In its action; an "impairment of contract by legislation"; an "excessive penalty." and the "taking of property without due proces of law." The point designated by Judge Bean as the vital one in the case was that section 81 of the City Charter, under which the six-for-a-quarter-fare or dinance was passed, insofar as it gan the City Commission power to regu late rates of public utilities within the City of Portland, was void, for the reason that that section of the char ter and the ordinance itself are in conflict with the Oregon public utili ties act, giving to the State liallroad Commission power to regulate public service rates in the state, including those within municipal corporations.. City Cannot Assume Power. Judge Bean said that the public utilities act had been passed by the, state In the exercise of its govern mental powers, and had not only been enacted by the State Legislature, but on referendum had been approved by the whole people of the state; and that notwithstanding their charter the peo ple of the city could not. by the adop tion of any ordinance, or in any man ner, assume the governmental power already exercised by the state as a whole. Such ordinances as are strictly mu nicipal in their character, which do not include the regulation of rates, may be enacted by cities, according to Judge Bean's ruling, and such only. The' effect of such an ordinance as the one under consideration. Judge Bean said, would be to allow the peo ple of a community or section to de clare void the general laws of the state. Lam Opposed, Court Says. Judge Bean pointed out that if the state law were obeyed, it would be In violation of the city ordinance, w.hlle if the ordinance were obeyed the state law would be violated. Under its rate schedule, filed with the State Railway Commission, the com pany's rates are 5 cents for a single fare, or $2.25 for a ticket-book of 60 fares. Judge Bean held that the trac tion company could not obey the ordi nance and alter these rates without be ing in violation of the law creating the State Railway Commission and defining its powers. In the arguments of the case. At torney Latourette contended that all the traction company would have to do to be in. harmony both with the state law and the ordinance would be to file a new schedule of rates with the State Railroad. Commission, but this contention was set aside by Judge Bean. Commission's Right Seen. Judge Bean suggested that if the peo ple of Portland desire to make a com plaint against the rates charged by any public service corporation, the (Concluded on Pag 2.J. " ft
