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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1914)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, AUGUST 17. 1914. 12 UNREST INQUIRY IS DUE HERE SHORTLY Members of Federal Industrial Commission to Convene in Portland Wednesday. 40 LISTED TO TESTIFY Three Days' Sessions to Be Held at Public Library Investigation to Be General Only Prominent Folk Are Summoned. On the Western curve of their swing around the circle investigating indus trial conditions of the United States, members of the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations will arrive in Port land tomorrow night or Wednesday morning to hold a three days' series of hearings in this city. Governor West and others prominent in affairs of the state will be called upon for testimony. The hearings in Seattle will be con cluded tomorrow. Sessions In Portland will be held in the Assembly Hall of the Public Li brary beginning at 10 o'clock Wednes day morning, and continuing until Fri day evening. They will extend from 10 o'clock to 4:30 every day, with an hour and a half Intermission at luncheon time. The Commission was preceded by E. M Manley, W. P. Harvey and George P. West, who passed through Portland July 27 to list the persons selected to testify at the hearings. J. E. Griffith came to Portland yesterday to make final arrangements for all details of the work. Five Commissioner Coming-. Members of the Commission who will come to Portland are Chairman Frank P. Walsh. Professor John R. Commons, Austin U. Garretson, James O'Connell, John B. Lennon. Mrs. J. B. Harrlman, S. Thurston Ballard. Frederick Delano and Harris Weinstock, other members of the Commission, will not attend the sessions here. Of especial importance in the inves tigation in Portland will be the effect of the Industrial AVelfare legislation In this state concerning women wage earners, and the metnods usea in Ore gon for dealing with the problem of unemployment. It Is estimated mat iu persons will testify before the commls alon. Principal among these are: Gov ernor West, Dr. F. o. Young, of the University of Oregon; W. C. Francis, secretary of the Employers' Associa tion; E. J. Stack, secretary of the Cen tral Labor Council; A. H. Averlll, presi dent of the Chamber of Commerce; Isaac Swett, of the Oregon Civic League: A. H. Harris, of the Portland Labor Press; M C. Banfleld, T. H. Bur chard, president of the Oregon Federa tion of Labor; C. E. S. Wood, the Rev. E. V. O'Hara, Amedee M. Smith and Miss Caroline Gleason, of the Industrial Welfare Commission; John Tait, presi dent of the Troy Laundry, and repre sentatives of the various labor organi sations of the city and state. Inquiry to Be General. In the present visit to the West the Investigation is designed to deal rather with general Industrial conditions than with specific lines of industry. In the East investigations have already been conducted on specific industrial lines, and this may be taken up later in the West. In Seattle two of the important specific subjects looked Into in addition to the general investigation were the lumber Industry and the problem of Asiatic immigration and labor. The present tour of the Commission Included Washington, New York, Pat terson. Philadelphia. Boston, Chicago, Lead, S. D. ; Butte. Seattle and Port land and will extend through San Francisco. Los Angeles and Denver. The organization of the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations was brought about following dis closures of widespread Industrial strife and discontent in many lines of activ ity, and Congress, in 1912. passed an act creating a United States Commis sion on Industrial Relations, with nine members to be appointed by the Presi dent. The Commission was directed to report its final conclusions and recom mendations to Congress on or about August 12. 1915. Representation Is Assigned. Three of its members were to repre sent the employers, three the employes and three the general public. The Commission has outlined for itself certain general lines of Inquiry that will control the scope of the pub lic hearings and the work of its staff. These include an investigation into the methods and policies of organiza tions of employers and organizations of employes; a survey of public agen cies, state and National, charged with regulating Industrial conditions: an in vestigation of unskilled labor and Its problems, such as unemployment, and an Inquiry into the activities of the courts during labor disputes. W. O. Thompson, of Chicago, is counsel for the Commission. Mr. Thompson is arbitrator in the men's clothing Industry in Chicago, and re cently distinguished himself in New York City through his successful ef forts to overcome difficulties In the cloak and suit trade and thus save the famous "Protocol" or trade agreement which has been the means of keeping peace In that Industry and of vastly Improving conditions. He has aban doned private practice to devote all his time to efforts to improve Industrial relations. Experts Are Engaged. In Its investigation of trades union Ism the commission has the active as sistance of Professor George E. Bar nett .of Johns Hopkins University, pro fessor of statistics and one of the lead ing authorities In the country on trades unionism. The Investigation of unemployment, seasonal labor, irregularity of employ ment and other problems effecting the distribution of labor is largely in the hands of Dr. W. M. Lelserson. state su perintendent of free employment agen cies In Wisconsin. Basil H. Manly, who wrote three vol umes of the. Government report on the Pittsburg steel Industry, is in charge of the force of investigators who pre cede the Commission. Mr. Manly is an authority particularly on unskilled labor. Industrial Fair Forms. ASHLAND. Or.. Aug. 16. (Special.) The Industrial Fair will be held in the first week f September. All dis plays must be the work of those be tween 10 and 19 years of age. Win ners will have the privilege of enter ing the lists at the county and state fairs. Te rural districts of Be'.leview. Soda Springs and Neil Creek will co operate with Ashland. The major entries will be in agri culture, horticulture, domestic art and manual training. The chief prize will be trips to the Panama Exposition and State Fair at Salem. The fair will be held in accordance with plar.s outlined by the Oregon Agriculture College, de tails being left to the local Parent Teacher Associations. I I FEDERAL COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND CO-WORKERS WILL COME TO PORTLAND WEDNESDAY. FRANK P. WALSH, OF KANSAS CITY, HUSSION. GERMAN FOLK MEET With Austrians Contribute $1200 to Red Cross. AMERICAN AIR STIRS ALL "United States First and Father land Next-' Is Sentiment of Big Gathering Subscription Com mittee Xamed, Plans Laid. Patriotism for Germany and Austria marked a meeting attended by more than 500 persons In the German House at Thirteenth and Jefferson streets yes terday afternoon. The session was called to arrange collection and solic iting of Red Cross funds for Germany and Austria. More than $1200 was sub scribed at the meeting. A 15-plece orchestra, under the di rection of Fritz Haenlein, opened the meeting by playing airs of the Fath erland. Dr. F. A. Dammasch, president of the Confederated German-speaking Societies of Oregon, spoke on the ne cessity of German-speaking people liv ing in the United States contributing generously to the fund. Otto Schumann, chairman, addressed the assemblage in German on the loy alty shown by Portland Germans for their native land. "While the United States is the best country," he said, "Germany comes next." Austria's Loyalty Landed. The loyalty of Austria to Germany in the present conflict also was dwelt upon by speakers. Cheer after cheer resounded through out the big hall when the orchestra intermingled "Die Wacht Am Rhein," the national hymn of Germany, and "My Country. 'Tis of Thee." The crowd rose and sang the German song with fervor, which increased rather than abated when the American air was played. "To Illustrate the Idea of patriotism which has been manifested here today," said Attorney Charles J. Schnabel, "my father came to this country in 1860. Less than a year later he joined the United States Army and fought during the Civil War, losing an arm in the conflict. I, myself, am a veteran of the Spanish-American war but next to America. Germany calls for me." German Veterans Cheered. Deafening applause greeted 17 vet erans of the f ranco-frussian war or 1870 when the German patriots marched to reserved seats in front- Gustave Schnoerr. of Oregon City, also a vet eran of the war of 1870, adressed the meeting In his native tongue. Emil Buelcke, of Scappoose, who served in the Franco-Prussian war. spoke on the generous spirit of local Germans. "There are more than 75,000 Ger mans and Austrians in uregon, ne said, "and It will not be surprising if this state sends $150,000 back to Ger many and Austria for the German- Austrian Red Cross." The committee reported yesterday that several Portland young women of German descent have expressed will ingness to Join the Red Cross in Ger many, if their transportation is pro vided. When the collection for the Red Cross was taken up It was found that more than $1200 had been added to the fund. A total of $1500 has beeD collected in Portland to date. German Coin In Plate. In the collection a German 100-mark piece was found. An elderly German woman exhibited great patriotism. When the songs of Germany were sung tears came to her eyes. She emptied her purse into the collection plarte. The walls ot the large auaitorium were draped with bunting and flags of Austria, Germany and the United States. Attorney Schnabel presented the Red Cross committee with a pho tograph taken two years ago by him self from the painting of A. Kamfe, Das Volksoffer, meaning The Peo ple's Offering." The picture shows cripples, women and children giving their mite to the Red Cross fund of Germany in tne Franco-Prussian war. Meetings will be called by the Con federated German-Speakir.g Societies of Oregon In other parts of the state this month. At Salem $100 was sub scribed at a preliminary meeting and Oieaon City Germans have dotted a similar amount. Funds Gleaned In Tine. John Relsacher assured the gather ing that the funds will reach Germain and Austria !n time to be of use In carrying on the Red Cross work on tho battlefield. J. G. Schwerdtmann, of Washington County, it veteran of the Franco-Prussian War, told of the good CHAIRMAN OF THE COM- accomplished by the Red Cross in the struggles of 1870. Thusnalda Lodge, Oregon, Daughters and Sons of Hermann, donated $25, which had been previously raised by the organization to give an ice cream sociable. Others announced that they had given up smoking, drinking and other habits that they might further assist the Red Cross, and German wom en residents are planning a series of entertainments to raise additional funds. It was announced yesterday that subscriptions may be made on the installment plan, the payments to con tinue as long as the war is waged. At the close of the meeting the or chestra again played a medley of Ger man, Austrian and United States na tional hymns. The crowd arose and sang, first "Deutschland, Deutschland, Aebe'r, Alias." then "Gott Erhalte Franz, den Kaiser," an Austrian hymn, and "The Star-Spangled Banner." Cheers Close Meeting. Three cheers followed "The Star Spangled Banner" and the assemblage dispersed. A committee appointed to solicit Red Cross funds is composed of Otto Schu mann, chairman; John Reisacher, vice chairman; Edgar Winters, secretary; Alvln Jubitz, treasurer; Dr. F. H. Dam masch, F. Fuchs, Herman Enke and Thomas Bergman. The First National Bank has been selected as custodian of the funds and subscriptions may be sent to either the bank or to Mr. Win ters, 100 Front street. "SING" PLANS PROGRESS MANY RALLY IN AID OF MULTNO MAH FIELD COSCF.RT. Monday Musical Club Lists Supporters of Event to Be Held Tomorrow Evening. The Monday Musical Club reports winning hearty co-operation in its preparation for the community "sing," to be held at the Multnomah Field to morrow evening from 7 to 9 o'clock. Mrs. Chester Deerlng and her com mittee of arrangements is receiving the interest and support of the following named persons and institutions: Horace D. Ramsdell, Portland Com mercial Club; W. J. Hofmann. Royal Rosarlans; Charles F. Berg. Portland Ad Club; J. C. English. Rotary Club; Portland Retail Merchants' Association; Dow V. Walker, Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club; William Merriman, F. L Miller, Percy C. Wood, Transportation Club; Franklin T. Griffith, president Portland Railway, Light & Power Com pany; Sarah A. Evans, State Federation Women's Clubs; Mrs. Isaac Swett, Mrs. S. M. Blumauer, Mrs. I. Leeser Cohen, Council Jewish Women: Mrs. Frederick Eggert, Mrs. P. J. Mann, Mrs. Fred L. Olsen, Portland Woman's Club; Mrs. E. P. Preble, Mrs. Allen Todd, Mrs. R. E. Jones, Portland Shakespeare Study Club; Mrs. Charles A. Steele, Mrs. Flor ence Crawford, Mrs. W. T. Wade, Psy chology Club; W. H. Boyer, L,. P. Bruce, Apollo Club, Portland Symphony Or chestra Musicians' Mutual Association, Local 99, American Federation of Mu sicians; Campbell's American Band; Mrs. Thomas Carrick Burke, Mrs. Ed ward Alden Beals, Mrs. Nancy Beals Van Dyck, McDowell Musical Club; Robert Lovell Wilson, F. T. Chapman, Warren Erwin, H. C. Bayley, George E. Jeffery, Willis E. McElroy, Daniel Wil son, Charles E. Patterson, Mrs. Ralph C. Walker, Pauline Miller Chapman. Mrs. Ralph Robinson, Mrs. B. E. Tait, Mrs. Ethel Maylield Meade, Mrs. D. B. Mackie, Miss Carrie A. Holbrook, Miss Katherine Ensey, Miss Genevieve Gil bert, Miss Martha B. Reynolds. Miss Nona Lawler. Miss Abby Whiteside, Dr. Clement B. Shaw, George M. Trow bridge, Mayor H. R. Albee and Mrs. Albee, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Brewster, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Piper, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil H. Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Meier, Mr. and Mrs. Carl V. Lachmund, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Irvine, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hurlbut, Mr. and Mrs. Montrose M. Ringler, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Strandborg, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Chap man, Mr. and Mrs. Waldemar Llnd, Mr. and Mrs. Hartridge Whlpp, Mr. and Mrs. Claire Montleth, Mr. and Mrs. Mose Christensen, Mr. and Mrs. Malwyn Evans, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Myers, Dr. C. H. Chapman, Meier & Frank Co., Owl Drug Company, Lipman. Wolfe & Co., Olds, Wortman & King Co., Sher man Clay Company, Lennon's Company, Woodard, Clarke Company and Wiley B. Allen Company. Roseburg Postman Xamed. ROSEBURG, Or., Aug. 15. The con tract for carrying the mails between Roseburg and Camas Valley, on the Roseburg-Myrtle Point road has been awarded to George Q. Rapp, of this city. As bids also are asked for car rying the mails between Camas Valley and Bridge, and BrWge and Myrtle Point, the Postoffice Department may intend to abandon the old Coos Bay w.gon road, over which the Marshfleid mail has been consigned for many years, and route all Coos County mall over the Myrtle Point line. The change in mall service Is op posed by Coos County citizens, who argue that they are entitled to serv ice as held by other towns. SPECULATION IS ADVANCE IN PRICES Farmers Blamed With Holding Products in Expectation of Increased Demand., MEATS RELATIVELY LOW Drugs, Toys and Other Manufactures of Germany and Austria Soar and American Competitors Profit by Conditions. Sharp advances in the prices 'of many commodities have occurred in Portland since the outbeak of war. These prices are a reflection of general advances all over the country. The increases are most pronounced on imported articles. This is especially true of those coming from Germany and Austria, as there is no prospect that the stocks now on hand can be replen ished. Imports even from neutral coun tries have advanced, however, because of the added cost of ocean freights. even the difficulty of getting any trans portation at all, owing to the fact that most of the worlds commerce is car ried by vessels of the nations now at war. Thus olive i ... the bulk of which comes from Italy, with France also a producer, has gone up 15 per cent. Castile soap Is selling for nearly dou ble Its price two weeks ago. Chemicals, toilet articles and drugs in general have risen from 20 to 300 per cent. Wholesale drug dealers just now are not even quoting prices for a longer period than one day on foreign articles that are showing war Influences. One large Portland wholesale drug firm has sent out a list to the trade showing how war advances have affected the values of their stocks, but at the bot tom of the list is distinctly printed: "The above prices are not iuotations and are subject to change without no tice." War Not Entirely to Blame. Imported foodstuffs generally have gone up. There nas been a rise In do mestic foodstuffs, too, though dealers declare that in most cases this is due to what might be termed natural home conditions. Irrespective of the war. Thus the aduod price of butter in the last week is attributed to the present unusual dry spell, v hich has lessenea the flow of milk and consequently in creased the value of butter fat. Eggs are high, but it is pointed out that they are always high at this season, and that they may be expected to re main high until the hens begin laying again in September or October. Trobably the most notable advance has been in sugar, both raw and re fined. Raw sugar has gone up 66 cents a hundreweight in the last two weeks, until It is selling at $7.55. Forty days ago it was selling at $4.40 a hundredweight. Another advance which may bring it to the $S mark is ovnected this morning, and it is pre dicted that it may even reach $9 before the advance ceases. This advance, large as it is, is de clared by dealers to be justified by con ditions. They point out that Austria. Germany, Russia and France are great producers of beet sugar. With their production now cut off. Great Britain and other countries, formerly largely dependent on the European yield, have had to turn to this country. War Foods Affected. Rice, most of which comes from Ja rn thouerh a considerable quantity is raised in the Southern United States, has risen 30 per cent. Beans are up J.3 per cent. These are staple foodstuffs for which there Is always a greatly in creased demand in war time. Lower prices on beans are looked for with the new crop in uctoDer. nowever, im h offset bv the fact that Austria is one of the largest bean exporters and that her exports are cut off entirely. Flour has not changed much, an ad vance of 20 cents a barrel being noted. When shipping conditions become more steadied and it is possiDie to snip nuui to England, the demand is expected to stiffen the price somewnai. All imported groceries have already jumped from 20 to 40 per cent, some going even higher. Sardines are up 20 to 25 per cent. French canned dainties have gone up. Caviar is about 25 per cent costlier than two weeks ago. Im ported onions, pickles, chow chow and the like have aavancea ai. me oo..hd ratio, which is also true of cheeses. German foodstuffs have gone consider ably higher and the end Is not in aigni because of the embargo on German ex ports. Coffee Advance Nominal. Some of the other imported articles especially affected are: Olives, spices, Crosse & Blackwell's goods, birdseed and other seeds, kippered herring, mushrooms, pate de fois gras. citron and peels, currants. Holland herring, Norway mackerel, imported French mustard, lentils, dates, pimentos, sago, tapioca, kraft paper, filberts and bra Ells. Tea Is up approximately 5 cents a pound. Stocks on hand In this coun try are declared to be considerably less than at this time last year, so that a shortage is possible. In New York, the largest storage center, there were only 197,000 packages a week ago to 267.000 last year and 354,000 in 1912. Coffee has advanced one cent a pound generally, though one largo Portland wholesale house has not met this in crease, feeling that it was a temporary one. Brazil is the principal coffee growing country, and one of its largest markets has been shut off In Germany. Brazil warehouses, it was explained by a Portland wholesaler yesterday, will hold 2,500.000 bags of coffee, and with 8.000,000 additional bags likely to be shipped in monthly, there is every rea son to believe that there will not be a shortage. In fact, coffee dropped 2 cents with the first war news, later recovering and advancing one cent. Speculative Tendency Noteu. Any advance in coffee at all will be due to war rates, war risk and in creased demand. A factor in the increased price of domestic products is the tendency of the producers to hold out for expected war profits. "As an example," said Henry Hahn, of Wadhams & Co., yesterday, "we have just been notified of an advance in rolled oats of 50 cents a barrel, ap proximately 10 per cent. The manu facturer informs us that this is because the farmer won't let go of his raw ma terial. "Advances in foodstuffs up to the present, however, have not been exces sive. Domestic commodities have ad vanced little. Flour Is an example. The old law of supply and demand is gov erning the situation almost entirely, and oo far there ia practically nothing artificial In the prices. 'The advances in the prices of im ported goods haven't more than covered the increased cost due to war condi tions. Among these factors is the diffi culty in getting the goods, higher ccean freight rates and the high war insur ance rates. This Is running from 4 to 5 per cent, and I have heard of even 10 per cent. The high cost of foreign ex change also has added to prices. A few weeks ago the exchange rate on one pound sterling was $4.86. but the other day it was $5.15. Somebody has to pay that difference, and that is what brings up prices." Meat Changes Slight. The advance in prices of dressed meat, according to dealers, Is nothing unexpected at this time of the year. They have not gone up any higher than is usual at this season and dressed pork is about half a cent lower. Dressed pork can now be obtained for 13 cents, while a year ago It was 14 cents. An Increase of one cent for veal has occurred since the beginning of the war, but the advance was ex pected. Relief is looked for within the next few weeks. Mutton and veal have remained the same, 10 and 11 cents, respectively. "Invariably at this season prices of meats go up," said William Constan tino, proprietor of the Alder Market. "Coming coincldenfly with the out break of war, It naturally causes the general public to believe that It is due to the war. Such Is not the case, in my opinion. As proof of this, the prices at this time last year show even a greater Increase In some of the dressed meats. "The increase in prices each year at this time is due largely to scarcity of meat, because the farmers do not sup ply the markets, as they are too busy harvesting. It is my opinion that no one should become alarmed at the pres ent price of meat and that It Is a mis take to blame the advance on the war." Drugs Hit Hardest. Probably in no one line has the war Influenced conditions as in the drug business. This is largely due to the fact that Europe is the largest pro ducer of chemicals, drugs and toilet articles. Germany is an especially large producer of drugs?, and this source is now entirely closed. The increases on these articles al ready has reached in some cases 200 and even 300 per cent. Prices are still going skyward. Among the articles af fected may be mentioned oxalic acid, much used by builders, which has gone from 7 cents to 30 cents a pound: car bolic acid, quinine, which has gone up 15 per cent; citric acid, formerly 75 cents, now $1.35 a pound; morphine, ep som salts, which have risen a cent a pound, and are likely to go higher be cause of the European shortage, and menthol, which comes from Japan. In the Russo-Japanese war, menthol at one time sold higher than $14 a pound. Normally it is about $4 a pound, but it has risen to $6.75. Java rice powder, a French face preparation, ordinarily retailing at 50 cents, has gone up 50 per cent. French perfumes have risen at least 25 per cent. Harmonicas, which all come from Germany, have gone up 25 per cent, and jobbers say that if the war continues long will be out of the market entirely. Drug Predictions Not Ventured. All toilet goods, such as hair brushes, made with Russian bristles, have in creased 23 per cent. Some bristles arc produced in Japan, but the bulk of the supply comes from Russia. Tooth brushes probably will go up. "Practically 50 per cent, perhaps even more, of the goods in the drug business are affected directly or indirectly by the war situation." said Edgar Frank, of the Blumauer-Frank Company, yes terday. "If the war continues long. It would be Impossible to predict how high prices may go." Rubber goods generally have been advanced. This is due partly to the fact that Liverpool and Hamburg are the principal shipping ports for crude rubber. Automobile tires have gone up from 10 to 30 per cent. Rubber water bottles have advanced 10 per cent. Rub ber bands are 20 per cent higher than a week ago. Though rubber Is shipped from South America, its price Is con trolled by the European market. Aluminum cooking utensils, for which Austria is the largest manufacturing point, are responding to war prices. The same is true of enamelware. Though much enamelware la made in the United States, the German manu facturers control the price, and with their competition eliminated the Ameri can makers have announced a 10 per cent increase. Toy Market Entirely German. Nlnety-flve per cent of all toys are said by dealers to come from Germany. As long as the war lasts no more toys can be shipped from there. Little George will have to do without his Teddy bear this Christmas, or else papa will have to pay four times the usual price; and Genevieve may have to do without a doll, for the bulk of the supply also comes from Germany. It may have to be a rag doll for her, or nothing. Germany Is the source of supply for the best camera lenses, and also for most of the optical glassware used, and an Increase In price may be ex pected. George Borgfeldt & Co., the great New York toy Importing house, has notified dealers here that the supply of the highly - popular "kewple" dolls is limited to the stock now in this country. When that is exhausted, no more can be obtained. This firm had 18 factories in Germany manufacturing kewple dolls alone. Proprietary Articles Higher. Among the drug products not previ ously named which have advanced from 20 to 200 per cent in price may be mentioned alum, castor oil, camphor, saltpeter, cocaine, quick silver, Rus sian parrafin oil and aspirin. All bismuth salts have advanced 20 cents a pound, all iodides 20 cents, and all lithium salts from 40 to 50 cents a pound. All crude drugs, herbs, seed, bark, roots, gums, balsams, spices, etc.. that are Imported have advanced from 25 per cent up, according to the country they come from. Pharmaceuticals into which these items enter probably will be advanced in proportion. All essential oils have advanced from 60 to 300 per cent, according to their point of origin. All French proprietaries, patents, chemicals and toilet preparations have gone up approximately 25 per cent. English preparations have advanced from 10 to 15 per cent, and German proprietaries and chemicals from 10 to 50 per cent. LAD ADMITS ROBBERIES Otto Nagle, Operating From Vacant House, Terrorizes Neighborhood. Otto Nagle. 20 years old. known to people in the vicinity of Peninsula Park as "The Holdup Kid," was arrested yes terday by Detectives Royle. Grisim and Goltz, after he had terrorized the vi cinity of the park for more than two months. Nagle confessed to most of the crimes when questioned by the of ficers. The youth had taken possession of a vacant house near the park, and made this his headquarters. Nagle, it is al leged, lay In wait for pedestrians, preferably boys. A knife was his only weapon. A number of dime novels were found in the vacant house. Nagle will be charged with holding up Otto Kerns, a newsboy, of 875 Strong street, and with burglarizing a house at 1884 Exeter street, says the detectives. Unwrapped Melon Mailed. ST. DOUIS, Aug. 14. A watermelon was received here today by parcel post. It was unwrapped and the ad dress was engraved on the rind. Postal authorities did not know whether it had been plugged before or after shipping. Negro employes re fused to talk. Buntal straw, which M extracted 'mm the leaf stem of the open burl leaf, comes cl lefly feom Tayabaa province and upper Lagun-i, Philippine Islands. FREE TICKETS To Marcus Loew's Empress Theater To every woman over 18 years of age w!i makes personal application at the Accommodation Desk, First Floor, Temporary Annex, r Stationery Deport ment, First Floor, Sixth-Street Building cue FREE TICKET, admitting to matinee or evening perform ances today at the "Empress," will be given. Tin s. Free Tickets entitle the holders to the best s ;its in the theater and earry no obligations whatever. Only one woman admitted on each ticket. 2000 admissions to the afternoon and 1000 Jidmis sions to the evening performances to be issued in all. Our Advertisement IN YESTERDAY'S PAPER Tells the Shopping News of Today iR7 tHEr qjualitV Store of Portland Fifttv, SbcU, "Morriaorv, Alder 3ta. OAKS LEADER CHEERED E. M'ELROY, BAM) DIRKOTOK, I S GIVE.V LONG OVATION. American Orchestra. Pictures and Vaudeville to Dr Programme for Remainder of Season. W. E. McElroy laid down his baton as leader of McElroy's band at the Oaks Amusement Park last night after being accorded un ovation few MM ever get. It was the close of the last regular band concert at the Oaks. From now on McElroy's band will play conceits every Sunday afternoon and night, but on week days there will be the American orchestra, augmented by vaudeville and motion pictures. The auditorium was pakcd for both performances when McElroy led his men through the various National an thems of the "seven nations.'' They were Impartially cheered, some more strenuously than others, but tho bars of "The Star-Spangled Banner" brought everyone simultaneously to his feet. The new numbers of the vaudeville bill were excellent In quality, the mu sical and vocal numbers by the Capelli Duo being harmonious in the extreme. Excerpts from various operas were well rendered, a clarionet of unusual tone blending well with the soprano of the woman member of the duo. Athon and Johnson, a couple well known In Portland, were well received in a number of new songs and catchy pattern. Two reels of motion pictures dosed the bill. The vaudeville numbers, motion pic tures and orchestra will be repeated daily during the week, weather per mitting. TAXICAB RATES CUT IN TWO Three Companies Announce Neutral ity at Reopening of War. Sudden revival of the taxlcab and livery automobile war which started about two months ago In Portland caused rates to be slashed 50 per cent in a single day by two of the largest concerns of the city and others are expected to follow their lead. The war took a new turn Krlday when the companies lined up In two distinct factions. One group Is made up of the owners of the ordinary metered taxicabs and the other faction Is composed of those who operate auto mobiles and taxlcabs and charge ac cording to a zone system. To this latter class tho hire automobiles also belong. The big rate-slashing tight started two months ago. following on the heels of a gasoline war which Is assisting to cut the operating expenses of the taxlcab companies. The innovation by a local concern of a zone system with rates considerably lower than Its com petitors Caused the war. The taxlcab companies started to cut A Familiar Scene Nightly the chugging of motors and the gay laughter of pleasure-loving folks is heard at ili entrance of "Ye Oregon." It is Portland's (li ter of good fellowship and good cheer! See i iei-r sma rates soon after this nnd the n ncrn of livery automobiles followed their example. One automobile with a down town stand Is operating for LM nn. hour as a result of the rate light. Two taxlcab companies cut rates 50 per cent in one dn . metered rates formerly w. rr .." their Th rent for the first one-half mil ami 10 rents lor each additional quarter mile, one or two passengers. The prMWl rates of these two companies now ar 50 cents for the tlrst mile, one or four pnssengers. Hiid 10 cents for men addi tional quarter mllr. Three companies Bra Maying out of the light. Y0UNGSTERSARE GREETED Tillamook Welcome- lir-h Vlr Par ti Mini oilier Are Planned. Tillamook outdid Itself In araleoMMafJ the party of fresh air ehll.lien Hint went with the United Artisans to that city Saturday, according to the report sent back by Mrs. Margaret Th. Toman, who with Mrs. H B, llondurant. a m- panied the party as a chaperon. All organizations of the city appointed ommlttees anil united in the work or preparing to receive the children ami providing two weeks of solid happiness for them at tho esashore. This party was the largest .if th season and brought the total of Mil dren who have enjoyed the benefit Ht the fresh air movement this e.-u- up lo 4 3 6. Parties will go to Nchaleni and Turner this week. The Nehal. ,n putty will consist of seven and will leav. to morrow, being the third that has bean entertained by the people of that pines. Twenty children will go Thursday In the party to Turner. Children who are to u to . Iinlem will be outfitted at t Assn. luted Charities today and the Turner party will be outlined Wednemla) Donations of money for the fresh air fund contlnuo to be te.elved In spite, of the new demand that lh. various Ked Crosa organizations have made since the beginning of the war upon the g;eneroslty of the people, and it la believed that the fund will rea. h i portions sufficient not only to care for all the fresh air parties this season, but to give a substantial beginninii at least on the fund that Is sought for the pur chase of a fresh air farm for next season. TWO DEBATE AT NEWBERG Dr. '. T. WHwa ami K Holer ens?. Prohibition iHWi HI NaVWsWML Or.. Aug II fHpcti. Before hundreds of men unci women, many of whom came In slltos fioin neighboring towns, ltrv. Clare nes Trtni Wilson and Colonel lv Motor debated the liquor Issue today. The argument lasted two and nna half hours. Colonel llofer ai-Riied that prohibition would entail loss of r ve nue and contended that prohibition i si Ineffective. Dr. Wilson maintained that the Issue Is a moral one. that liquor weakens the citizenship .nd damages the state. Mr. L. F. Cowen New York's most pop ular Tenor, in all the latest- song successes. Miss Veta Florenz, in new songs and dances. Miss Blanche Barritt just up from Frisco in new song hits. Join the gay throngs at St regon &rtU Broadway at Stark.