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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1914)
7 PHIL METSGHAN, SR., A3 LAD OF 14, PROMINENT OREGONTAN LEFT GERMANY 60 YEARS PASS Wk AGO YESTERDAY. THE MORNING. OREGONIAN, . WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1914. GRANTS "There's a Distinction" in being at the front- not only in war time, but also in the time of good dress. It makes no difference what line of business a man follows, his appearance carries a great deal to his success. There's one way in which we can help every man in his appearance of good form and good dress and that is to put him in a Hart Schaffner & Marx Suit or Overcoat . We feel that when this is accomplished he need not he backward as to appearance. You'll find in buying these clothes, the style, the all wool fabrics, the workmanship, the fit every thing you'll want at the price you want to pay. Ask to see Suits or Overcoats at $25; it's a good starting point. Others at $18 to $35 FROM LAW Sixty Years Ago November 10 Robert G. Smith, Former Con Ambitious German Lad Sailed for America. gressional Candidate and State Legislator, Cast Out. SUCCESS CROWNS CAREER TAKING OF FUNDS CHARGED rromlnent Hotel Man Recalls De parture From Fatherland With Trunk That Becomes Guide. Oregon Home 52 Years. Ousting by Supreme Court Follows Complaint Made by Cleopatra De velopment Company, Which ' Obtains $1900 Judgment. HAS ANN VERSARY BARRED Just 60 years ago yesterday, Novem ber 10. 1854. Phil Metschan, Sr.. per haps the most prominent bonlface in Oregon, then a sturdy lad of 14 years. left the port of Bremerhaven, Ger many, on the three-masted sailing1 ves sel Meta for the United, States. With the consent of his parents he had departed from his home village, Bchenklengrsf eld, province Hesse-Cassel, In what is now Prussia, a few days earlier, with only 100 German dollars, or about 60 American dollars, in his pockets, and a big- trunk which was destined to serve as his guide. Prompted by the terrors attendant upon the revolution of 1818, many Ger man boys had come to America, among them Carl Schurz and others of simi lar type, who had sprung up from the best blood in Germany. Mr. Metschan had been advised to come to America by an elder brother, Franz F. Metschan, who had migrated a few years earlier and who still lives In Kansas City. Ambition Bia Prompter. Like the other young fellows, he wanted to live in America, where he thought he could better his condllon. He was willing to trust to luck. The fact that he had to pay out about two thirds of his accumulated fortune to pay for his passage, berth and meals illustrates what chances he took. Fourteen-year-old Phil Metschan was alone on the trip across the ocean, but he had acquaintances in Andrew Heus ner, father of George F. Heusner and the late John A. Heusner, then a boy in his teens, and John Berger, a man about 35. At the entrance of the North Sea the vessel Meta struck stormy weather. which precipitated an experience that Mr. Metschan recalled even yesterday. But the remainder of the voyage was smooth and pleasant and the winds were so favorable to quick sailing that the captain said they might make New York in 10 days. But .they did not ar rive until December 29, after 49 days on the water. The time required to cross the Atlantic then varied between 30 and 40 days, according to the wind. Cincinnati First Goal. As soon as they put foot on land the three friends started for Philadel phia, where one had relatives, to spend New Year's day. They then parted, young Metschan going by the new rail route over the Allegbaney Mountains to Cincinnati, where his uncle, Fred Shiricke, conducted a butcher shop. When he landed in Cincinnati the boy had but $4.80 and he couldn't speak a word of English. "When I left home my parents gave me a big trunk and filled it with clothes," said Mr. Metschan yesterday. "As I never knew where to go- at junc tion points, all I could do was to watch my trunk as It was transferred to a new train. I literally followed my trunk to Cincinnati. In those days the trains didn't travel at night, so we had to make frequent stops at hotels and we changed trains often. "But I soon learned English at my uncle's house. They talked English al together and 'wouldn't allow the ser vants to talk German with me. As a result I could talk as well after three months there as I can today. I had a common school education in Germany, but I have never gone to school in America a minute. German Clothes Last. "I began my apprenticeship in my uncle's market t IS a month for the first year. The second year I received 10 a month and the third year $15 a month. I got my board and lodging to boot,' but it was lucky for me that my trunk full of clothes held out. As a. matter of fact I didn't have to buy any more clothes for three years, and I'll bet I saved more out of the $5 a month than I did out of the $15 two years later." Leaving Cincinnati In 1859 Mr. Metschan went to Leavenworth, Kan., and a year later started across the plains to Pike's Peak. Thence he drifted to Leadville (then California Gulch), Colo., where he was in the butcher business for two years before going to California. He landed in the Sacramento Valley Just preceding the big flood in the Fall of 1861. The Spring following he left on the steamer Sierra Nevada and ar rived in Portland in July, 1832. Grant Connty Ofllcea Held. The first years of Mr. Metschan's life In Oregon were spent in Canyon City, where his nine children were born and reared. For several years he conducted a butcher shop and later a general merchandise business. He was chosen to serve as County Treasurer of Grant County from 1868 to 1872, and later was elected to the position of County Clerk which he held until 1890, when he was elected State Treasurer. He was Treas urer of Oregon from 1891 to 1899, when lie removed from Salem to Portland. Soon after he came to Portland Mr Metschan and Charles Knowles pur chased the Imperial Hotel, at the corner of Washington and Seventh streets. Many of Mr. Metschan's friends then remarked that he was throwing away what money he had made while in oftice. They told him he was going too far out on Washington street, al most in the suburbs as it seemed to them. New Hotel Occupied. In 1906 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Metschan became sole owner. Five years ago the Imperial moved into the new fireproof annex on Stark street and Broadway. At that time Mr. Metschan's three sons, Phil, Jr.. Otto W. and H. A. Metschan, became asso ciated In the ownership. The present Imperial has the general reputation of being -one of the busiest hotels on the Coast. The principal factor contribut ing to this success has been the wide acquaintance of the Metschans through out the state and their well-known spirit of hospitality. Mr. Metschan has returned to Ger many only once since he came to America 60 years ago. With his wife and two daughters he left Portland in July,. 1907, and toured Europe, return ing in November. 1908. While In the old country he visited the village of Schenklengsfeld, where he was raised. As he explained yesterday, the country thereabout looked natural, but he found that he didn't know anybody. Appar ently everyone had passed on who had lived there In November, 1854, when the 14-year-old' boy had started for America with his big trunk full of clothes. frJS:; t " f f A 4 AL, &, I tft- 'x v $7 -X . , ' xh I ( w'Vy - V TROUBLES ARE TOLD Assessors in Session Discuss Realty Values. PRICE HELD NO CRITERION EKects of Purchases by Those Who Pay Too Much Subject of Warm Debate What'll Yon Do About That? Asked. represented by George Holcomb. A number of minor errors were found which did not affect the general re sult, they being quite evenly divided between the rival candidates. All the errors, including the listing of the 100 extra votes for Mr. Hurlburt, were clerical ones that were made in the rush of securing totals immediately following the election. County Clerk Coffey will commence the official count this morning. This must be conducted in the presence of two Justices of the Peace and one copy of the results must be filed with the SALEM, Or.. Nov. 10. (Special.) Robert G. Smith, of Grants Pass, can didate for Representative in Congress twice and an ex-Representative In the State Legislature, was today disbarred from the practice of law by the Su preme Court on charges of willful de celt and misconduct as a practitioner of law. Mr. Smith was accused of making false representations to the Cleopatra Development Company, of Washington, and to J. . Lacey, its agent, concern ing the patenting of mining claims in JNortnern California, having been en gaged by them as counsel. He is said to have represented to Lacey that the cost of a certain advertisement was $375, when the actual cost was $60, and that he converted the entire sum to his own use, not even paying the $60. Taking of Fund Alleged. Smith further was accused of collect ing $250 as filing fees, when the actual fees were only $10, and obtaining from Lacey $2575, the alleged purchase price of the claim, which he is accused of converting to his own use. The company brought suit asalnst him for $4490, and it was alleged that while the action was pending It was stipulated between them that if- he paid the company $2a00 before October 10, 1913, it would be accepted in full satis faction of the entire amount alleged to be owed. The money was not paid and judgment for $441)0 was entered. The Supreme Court says: 'The said Smith contends that he converted the said money because the development Company did not pay his lees. Misconduct Is Found. Smith says in his testimony he did Cocyrfght Ert Schfncr fcMva 9 TS TT?N I K OS nblatt & Co. The Men's Shop for Quality and Service ON THE GREAT LIGHT WAY Northwest Corner Third and Morrison such a case, but he received . money over and above the amount mentioned herein which would undoubtedly more than cover his reasonable fees. There is no question but that Robert G. Smith was guilty of willful deceit and mis conduct In his professional dealings with the Cleopatra Development Com pany and with Lacey, Its agent." record of the tabulations is to be kept not ask tn Development Company for in the archives of the County Clerk. a payment xnereon until wovemDer, r"i-u Cnfrov-a Hpmit 9 ane-acred on wniie ine iu ana Ji were re' vcu uj mm lor specmc purposes and were so converted In 1906. and $2575 was received In 1908, being converted at that time. There may be a question as to wnether he is entitled to any fees in "What are you goln' to do about that?" This was the almost unanimous de mand of the Assessors as they recited their troubles at the convention of the Oregon County Assessors' Association in the Courthouse yesterday. "Shoestring" purchases, purchases by the ignorant who pay more than the face value for their real estate, and various forms of real estate graft, with their effect upon the Assesor's duty. were the subjects of warm discussion "Suppose one of you men buys a 40- acre tract of land from a man who owns 80 acres in the outskirts of Port- and," said George R Funk, of the Portland office. "Suppose you pay $1200 an acre and begin selling It for $500 a lot.. It would be unjust to tax the lot owners on a $500 basis. That system leads to assessing values on the small owners. Several Are Puzzled. This proved a puzzler for several members. "I know a firm that bought a tract for $50 an acre," shouted one. The man they bought it from valued it at $25 an acre. "Now the company is selling the land for $150 an acre. What are you goin to do about that?" 'Some of our land is up in the moun tains, where nobody can get," another member asserted. "What are you goln to do about that? 1 Mr. Funk suggested that large deal ers were better judges of land values than small purchasers. "These men that buy lots don t Know anything about values, he asserted. Large Dealer Knows, He says. "But a large dealer is not going to Invest more than the value or tne lana, except in the. case of 'shoestring pur chases, where he pays a small sum down and the rest out of the money paid him by the small, buyers, i tninic this is a much better criterion than the present selling price of the land." j The meeting was openea py x. j. Thrift, of Coos County, the president of the association. Mayor AiDee wel comed the members to the city. Other speakers were: A. H. Guild, f Portland, who epoke on the "Somers System of Taxation, and J. P. Lee, or Klamath County. Last night the association was en tertained at a banquet in the Commer cial JClub. The meeting will convene at 10 o'clock today for the second session. The members present are: Harry G. Hyde. Baker County; W. H. Rickard, Benton; J. E. Jack, Clackamas; F. P. Leinenweber. Clatsop: C. W. Blackes ley, Columbia; T. J. Thrift. Coos; H. A. Faslio, Crook; J. J. Donegan, Harney; J. Weckham, Hood River; W. T. Grier Jackson; J. P. Lee, Klamath; Ben Keeney, Lane; W. E. Ball. Lincoln: E. L. Fisher. Linn; B. West. Marlon; Henry E. Reed, Multnomah; Frank E. Mayer, Polk; Olla Peetz, Sherman: C. A. John son, Tillamook; C. P. Strain, Umatilla: U. G. Couch. Union: C. H. Allen, Wallowa: James A. Davis, Wasco; Max Crandall, Washington, and Martin Mil ler, Yamhill. WORD GAINS 100 VOTES RECHECK SHOWS ERROR ON SIDE OF" T. M. HURLBURT. election work busied themselves yes terday with preliminary work that must be done before the official count can be started. Extensions of the tally sheets were necessary because of the so much heavier vote just cast than at any previous election. $90,000 OFFER REFUSED ROSE-GROWING IS INVITED City Beautiful Committee Discusses Plans for Tear. The activities of the Rose Festival Association to make Portland "The City Beautiful" will be continued throughout the entire year in future, according to a decision reached at a meeting of the board of governors in the Commercial Club last night. Efforts will be made through the city beautiful committee to have every child in the city raise one or more roses to compete in the rose show at the next festival. Through the chil dren it is hoped to interest the parents and induce every family in the city to raise roses and other varieties of flowers native to Oregon. The city beautiful committee, con- making Portland the most beautiful city of the West. Plans for entertaining visitors next Summer were decided upon. Thirty three conventions of various organiza tions will be held In -Seattle next Sum mer. The tickets of the delegates will be routed through Portland it is be lieved. Local members of the conven ing associations will be expected to provide entertainment for these vis itors with the assistance of various Improvement clubs. The board of governors expects to have a large representation on the Rosarian excursion, which will leave slstlng of E. T. Mische, A. E. Doyle. J. A. Currey and John Carroll, under, for California December's. the chairmanship of Julius Meier, will Emery Olmstead president take charge of all movements toward board, presided. of the How Could Pianos Worth Over 686,000 Be Sold In Portland During October? SCHOOL. BOARD MUST LOOK ELSE WHERE FOR PROPERTY. Anglo-Paeific Realty Company Places Higher Value on 2 Blocks Con tract Let Bids Open Today. An offer of $90,000 made yesterday by the School Board for two blocks, bounded by Multnomah, Hassalo, Adams and First streets, in Holladay Addition, was refused last night by the owners, the Anglo-Pacific Realty Company. The property originally was offered to the! board for $125,000. The board's inten tion was to locate the trade school on the site, and now that the orfer has been turned down, it probably will look around for other suitable property. The plumbing contract on the new Couch school building was let by the board last night to the firm of Full man & Walker at a figure of $11,093, The bids for the contracts on the new $160,000 Shattuck School will be opened today. A delegation from the Hawthorne dis trict appeared before the grounds and buildings committee of the board last night and repeated an appeal for the purchase of ground for the construc tion of a proposed school to relieve the congestion caused, in that building by the attendance of high school students. The matter will be taken up again be fore the next regular meeting of the full board. My Goodness, Look! A Gift of $20 Tree at Eilers. Tree storage until Thanksgiving or Xmas Day, and free deliv ery. No need to. worry over first payment money. Here it is. It was the unprecedented comhination, the Mannf actur era' Emergency and Surplus Sale, coupled with the sale of the residue of the costliest makes from the Soule Bros. Failure Sale, authorized hy the court. It's a record we're proud 'of. But November will be bigger, because the Manufacturers' representatives, Ellsworth, Barnes & Davey, now in charge of this great sale, are making prices lower than ever heretofore equalled or heard of. Special offer to purchasers Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Every pianoless home should make careful inves tigation. It is so easy to pay a little each month and own one of the superb instruments now offered during this most extraordinary piano sale. TURKEY DECLARED DOOMED Mussulman Says Russian Invasion Cannot Be Prevented. ROME, Nov. 10. Ifram Bey, head of the staff of Essad Pasha, the Albanian Minister of War, who is here to negoti ate for the lending of assistance by Italy to Albania, said today concerning the situation created by Turkey enter ing into the war: Turkey is finished. As a Mussulman I am sorry. I know the Caucausus and am convinced Turkey cannot oppose serious resistance to the Russians. At Erzerum Turkey claims she has 300,000 men to resist the Russians, but her forces there are far below that number. while Trebizond is in even a. worse con dition. "Now she rushes toward ruin. When the Mussulmans know that the power of the Caliph has been sacrificed to German Interests and a few politicians. summary justice will follow, but It will be too late." Beth. In the names of places mentioned Jn the Bible. Is the Hebrew word for "house." Thui Beth-lehem Is the house of fcread; Seth-aalda. house of mercy. Connt Made by Frienda of Both Re veals Trifling Mistakes That In No Way Allected Final Result. Sheriff Word gained 100 votes yester day over T. M. Hurlburt In their race for the shrievalty when a recheck of the precinct totals throughout the county was made. Friends of both candidates did the checking. It was found that in Precinct 68, Mr. Hurl burt had f been credited in , the first tabulation with 176 votes, when as a matter of fact he should have been given but 76 ballots. C V. H. Jones represented Sheriff Word yesterday as the recheck of the figures was mado and Mr. Hurlburt was WASHING WON'T RID HEAD OF DANDRUFF Dissolve It, That's Best Way. The only sure way to get rid of dan druff is to dissolve it. then you destroy it entirely. To do this, get about four ounces of ordinary liquid arvon; apply it at night when retiring; use enough to moisten the scalp and rub it in E-entJ v with the fintrer tips. Do this tonight, and by morning most if not all of your dandruff will be gone, and three or four more ap plications will completely dissolve and entirely destroy every single sign and trace of It, no matter how much dan druff you may have. You will find, too, that all Itching and digging of the scalp will stop at once. and your hair will be fluffy, lustrous, FREE $20 FREE Bring this advertisement to day or Thursday or Friday. "We give you absolutely free $20.00 as initial payment on any new piano or player piano at these tremendously reduced sale prices, and we arrange pay ments in 10 months or 20, or 30, or even 40 months, according to price of the instrument and amount of time you think you may require. You have the privilege of paying all or more at any time. Arrangements can be made also to pay balance of payments weekly, some as low as $1.00 per week, some $1.50 per week, some $2.00 and some $2.50. This in cludes not only upright pianos, new ones, but player pianos and baby grands, too. Monthly pay ments of $4.00 or $6.00 or $8.00 or more as best suits your con venience, will be arranged for. There is not a pianoless home in Oregon,. no matter how hum ble, that can now have any pos . sible excuse for being without the kind of piano most appro priate and desirable for that home. t. Order by mail. We guarantee that purchase will prove satisfactory. ' The manufacturers do not need the money, but they do want to keep the wheels of their great institutions turning. They have undertaken to sell out the great stock of Eilers Music House on an agreement that we buy three surplus instruments for every two now sold by their representatives, Messrs. Ells worth, Barnes & Davey, Broad way at Alder. Em'ii1 rr 'i ------ A JJglRif.'g!!gfggi!fg!H!gs5r-jr-,gHg!WifW!gg t'.t -f. . -"ri.,.. iJteL Here are a few prices which will make our selling records for November the biggest of ' any November since the House of Eilers was established many years ago. And, remember, every instrument in this sale is accompa nied by a guarantee, assuring absolute satisfaction to the purchaser or no sale. See these and many others at the sale of the Soule, lBros.' Failure Stock and the Manufacturers' Emergency and Surplus Sale now being held by Ellsworth, Barnes and Davey at Eilers Music House. Practically every piano in this sale is new, not even shopworn ; bat the few that are used are in perfect and guaranteed condition. All can be had on very easy payments. Take 20 or 30 or 40 months. The Price That Was. The Soule Bros, and also the San Francisco and other consignment branch concern price. The Price That Is. The big home piano house's little profit-per-piano method price. Now made still lower during this sale. 05O Mission Wesntan Piano, now less than half. 8316 S&50 Lester Grand, latest style, almost half. 8-437 S350 Small size, elegantly finished mahogany Sonle Bros, uprights 8160 $32S Nicely finished, though used Everett Upright S140 9575 Stelnway, Ebony stained case, 9237, and a smaller-sized Mahogany 8185 S525 Hardman, very elaborate case 8188 500 Largest sized Weber X'prlRht 8196 1150 Weber Pianola Piano, jast like new, the best and most expensive ever built by Webers 84S8 Many other slightly nsed pianola Pianos, all with Themodlst Metrostyke attachments, S3SO, 8337, 82S5. S30O Largest size Fischer Upright, Walnnt 8165 S325 Another Mahogany 8135 fSOO Most elaborate, finest toned Steels Upright ever seen in this city 8295 S950 Steele Pianola Pianos. Jnst like new, the best and most expensive models ever built by Steele 8535 Plainer cases ....8435 The Price That Was. The Soule Bros, and also the San Francisco and other consignment branch concern price. The Price That Is. The big home piano house's little profit-per-piano method price. Now made still lower durlns this sale. S850 Massive Mahogany S8-note Apollo Player Pianos S3SO and 8365 SIOT.O Knabe Grand 8472 S3SO Vote A Sons, 81 OS Another 8124 S-17S Estey, 8165 Another 8135 "275 Ludwlg, 8165 Another 8146 SCOO Angelas Player Piano 8225 S4O0 Hallet & Davis, fine for students 8140 9ZSO Cable Nelson make 8 72 9275 Kingsbury make . 8 88 S8SO Player Piano, beautiful mahogany SSIO SSOO Weber Upright, genuine Weber-made instru ment. Manufactured before the Stelnway- Weber-Aeollan alliance. Now only 8255 Another, very heaatlfnl 8345 Another showa usage S165 And many others, al most any make ynu can think of. and al 1 now to be had for less than wholesale prices. Superb Baby Grand at unbelievably low prices ffe $525 jil8 Superb, ielec-ed, Sweet Toned Pianos at $95, others $117, $145; etc Easy payments plan for alL Thi3 great sale is bound to close very shortly now. The stock glossy, silky and soft, and look and $3 .thinning out. The assortment is still comrAete, but will De it yon want to "preserVe your hair, do quickly depleted now. Saving money is making money maice k by aii means get rid of dandruff, for by taking advantage of these low prices. But you must be quicK notning oesiroys ine nir mutujuj. t j hi5 '. Rnv nnw It not only starves the hair and makes It fall out. but It makes It stringy, straggly, dull, dry, brittle and lifeless. Make Tiavments commencing next vear. "We deliver free now, and everyone' notices it. tou can get I or jf yOU prefer, will store free and then deliver as a superb lxpenr. 05 Xmas surprise. Make home what it should be. It is easy. . Music wiu qo it. . . - . - work. irlv. EILERS BUILDING, BROADWAY AT ALDER Open Every Evening During This Sale Until 9 o'clock