Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, January 01, 1917, New Year's Edition, Section 5, Page 22, Image 74

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    THE MORNING- OREGONIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1917.
GIRL 'FORGER' SAYS
SHE'LL 'PAY PRICE'
PORTLAND WORKING GIRL. CHARGED WITH FORGERY IN LAND
SKETCH IS BIG HIT
UISAL, WHO DEFIES OPINION OF SOCIETY WHICH
NEGLECTED HER.
Orpheum Audience Charmed
by Acting in "Peggy."
WE WISH YOU ALL
Nellie Miller Denies Intent to
Do Wrong in Signing Mrs.
. Kerns' Name to Check.
WOMAN DANCER THRILLS
23
SOCIAL SYSTEM ARRAIGNED
Young Woman Asserts LeKoy Kerns
Assured Her It Was All Right
to Sign Paper and She Says
She Will Stand by Him.
"I did not think I -was doing- wrong.
He told me it was all right, to go ahead
and sign. But if It was wrong, if I am
a forger, as they say I am, I am willing
to pay. I'm not a mollycoddle!"
So says Miss Nellie Miller, somewhat
of a cynical philosopher, her black eyes
striking sparks, as she speaks of the
charge of forgery against her, wherein
it Is alleged that she impersonated Mrs.
LeRoy Kerns and signed that name to
IK check for J300 In connection with a
land deal at Madras, Or. Both she and
Kerns were arrested Saturday evening
by City Detectives Craddock and Smith,
at the close of an Inquiry by F. S.
Alkrus, of the Burns International De
tective Agency.
, "The public?" The words were less a
query than an exclamation of scorn.
"Why should I care what the public
cays of me? Did the public ever take
care of me? Does it take care of any
of the girls who are forced to work
for starvation wages? No! The public
waits till the girl trips and stumbles.
Then its police bring her here, to jail,
and at last the public gives her a bed
and meals." . And Miss Miller hurried
to a climax, not unlike a character in
the modern problem play or a woman
of George Bernard Shaw's observation.
Wg Complaint Ma'de.
"I worked in Portland on Broadway
quite a while before I went to the
eountry. Six dollars a week! That's
all very well, you say, a dollar every
oay. well, I p&aL. 12 for my room each
week. They gave me a, meal ticket for
x cars me way toy wages went.
"Everything in the places where I
wonted was hi?h-prlced. because 1
never wanted to work in the 'cheap
Joints'.' I was afraid. So,, you see,
sandwiches cost 15 cents. It took 75
cents a day to pay for your meals, and
then you didn't have more than a
scanty allowance. If you used your
ticket up before the week ended, vou
had to have the cash, or you couldn't
eat. on, it's fine. I tell you.
"Do you know that you have to be
an apprentice girl to get work here in
Portland?" The words were scornful
and the girl's eyes smouldered. "It's
like this: I go to a Dlace and sav. 'I'd
like to apply for a position, and I've
had such-and-such experience.' The
answer is, 'We can't do anything for
you, unless you'll work as an aooren-
tice. We can get plenty of those to do
the work.' Bo the girl, no matter what
her experience has been, or what refer
ences she has, must work for 24 a
month, nun:
Eierht-Honr I.atr Blamed.
"Once I had a position that paid ?9
a week. I got a nice room and I was
happy. I didn't know much about the
new eight-hour law for women, but it
naa gone inio enect. That flay I had
worKea nara, and my sales were $45.
I had put up many party luncheons.
and although I was tired, I was satis
fied with the Job. I knew I was making
good. At closing time the proprietor
handed me my check and told me I was
through.
'Why. Mr. I said, 'don't vou
think you ought to give me a week's
notice, at least? He shrugged his
shoulders and said that he couldn't. A
man went to work In mr place, be
cause a man could give him 10 hours
of his time.
Of the alleged forgery which caused
her arrest. Miss Miller was reticent.
She declared that she was willing to
assume run responsibility for her act.
I liked Mr. Kerns," she said, "and
wnen ne asxea me to sign the check
I hesitated. 'Go on,' he said, 'it's all
l ight." So I signed it, but as heaven Is
my Judge, I never thought I was doing
wrong.
Status of Companion Questioned.
Miss Miller believes that Kerns has
obtained a divorce from his wife, and
announced her intention yesterday of
staying Dy mm."
She is 21 years of age, dark of hair
and eyes, rather tall and assuredly
.graceful, and Impresses the listener
with the complete sincerity of her
character. Her view of life, that of a
working girl, is passionately emblt
tered.
It is alleged by the detectives that
the young woman came to Portland
several weeks ago, accompanied by
Jverns, ana tnat miss Miller signed Mrs.
Kerns' name to a check at the North
western National Bank.
"It doesn't matter what they do
with me!" declared Miss Miller, "but if
anyone is to lose by my act, I want to
pay that money back. I'll work, I'll
save, ana uiey snail nave It. every dol
lar. Still, if they must send me to
prison I can go, and they'll never hear
me whimper.
COUNTY RECEIPTS DROP
CLERICS OFFICE TAKES IN f 302-1
LESS THAN LAST YEAR.
Report Shows 71 Fewer Marriages In
Multnomah and 12 More 1)1
, . vorces Than In 1015.
Receipts for the County Clerk's of'
fice for the year 1916 amounted to a
total of $36,724.39. or a decrease of
$3024.60, compared with the receipts
for the preceding year, according to
a report prepared yesterday by Carl
1. Massey, bookkeeper.
The expenses of the office during
the 12-month period amounted to $57
187.45, a decrease of $1697.89 compared
with 1915. The excess of receipts over
disbursements was $29,536.94.
The report shows marriages to be
on the decrease and divorces on the
Increase. Marriage licenses issued
during the year 1916 reached a total
of 1777, or 71 less than for the year
1915. A total of 772 divorces were
granted, being 12 in excess of last year.
The report shows that a total of
299,054 affidavits were taken out dur
ing the 12 months for the purchase
or liquor and alcohol.
Circuit Court cases during the year
amounted to 3576, being 129 less than
lor tne preceding year.
Centralians to Celebrate.
CENTRA LI A. Wash.. Dec. 31. (Spe
tlal.) A New Tear parade and street
demonstration will be staged Monday
night by the Centralla Elks. A 30-piece
band will head the parade and the
marchers will be attired In linen dust
era and plug hats. The demonstration
was originally planned for Christmas
night, but was postponed.
ft t .s39b'-'
1 1' ": - -: - ' - i
I ' ' t .''-
MISS NEIL
'GREAT DIVIDE' WINS
Alc-zar Players Give Three
Productions of Big Play.
RUTH GATES. HAS LAURELS
Stirrlne Drama Holds Largo Audi
ences at Baker Theater, With
Albert McGovern Sharing
Big Work , With Star.
CAST Or THE GREAT DIVIDE. "
Philip Jordan Charles Compton
Polly Jordan, his wife
Eleanor Parker
Mrs. Jordan, his mother
Lora Rogers
Ruth Jordan, his sister....
Ruth Gates
Winthrop Newbury Will Lloyd
Dr. Newbury, his father
George P. Webster
Stephen Ghent . ... Albert McGovern
Lon' Anderson Walter B. Gilbert
Burt Williams ......Henry Norman
Dutch Harold Holland
Pedro ......Raymond Johnson
A Contractor ......... Scott Brebner
An Architect .... .George R. Taylor
A Boy ................. Corry Jones
Ruth Gates and Albert McGovern
yes. and every other member of the
cast of "The Great Divide" achieved
a triumph yesterday and added well
deserved laurels to those that had been
won before by tnat clever company of
stage folk, the Alcazar Players, who
are the attraction this season at the
Baker Theater.
Three times was that stirring drama
given. The story and the play that
are linked with the names of the
author, William Vaughn Moody, and
with the fame of the actor, Henry Mil
ler, was presented to three large audi
ences yesterday.
Ruth Gates Stars.
Three times did Ruth Gates live over
those Intense scenes and throw her
whole life into the character of Ruth
Jordan, the girl who is the heroine,
the central figure- of the play. It was
no easy part she took. Hard work
and true genius had to be combined In
its interpretation. And both were con
tributed generously by Miss Gates.
As Stephen Ghent. Mr. McGovern was
superb. In his primitive emotions, in
his strength, in his elemental passions
and in his great goodness and power
to sacrifice he painted the character of
the hero of the play, the man who
gambled for, bought and fought for
and finally suffered for the girl who
became his wife.
There are three acts, all well staged
but for the setting of the second, espe
cial praise is due.
Eleanor Parker Adds Wit.
An added interest is found in the
company in hte presence of Eleanor
Parker, the recent acquisition to the
list of Alcazar Players. Miss Parker
is bright and sparkling and lovely. As
Polly Jordan. "Polly kins." the sister-in-law
of Ruth, she gives Just the right
dash of frivolity and wit.
Outside of the door of the Ghent
cabin in act two there sat that wise
old philosopher, - that faithful friend
and devoted servant, Lon Anderson. He
is one or the big- hits of the play
and. needless to say. it Is Walter B.
Gilbert who plays the part and plays
it to penection.
Charles Compton is the PhiliD Jordan
of the story Philip the loving, im
pulsive brother of Ruth, who In the
first scene is with her on the lonely
ranch in Arizona, and in the last Is in
the old family home in Massachusetts.
Will Lloyd, always popular, does his
part in the successful production by
giving a cleancut performance as Win
throp Newbury, a devoted admirer of
Ruth. George P. Webster hasn't much
to do, but does that little well, being
the dignified and wise family physi
cian. Dr. Newbury. Henry Norman is
Burt Williams, a rough and , ready
miner.
Raymond Johnson is Pedro and Har
old Holland is Dutch, the ruffians who
bargain for the girL George R. Tay
lor is the architect who plans the new
home that Stephen would build for his
wife, Scott - Brebner Is the contractor
and Cony Jones Is a boy, minor parts.
but all well done.
"The Great Divide" will continue all
this week with bargain performance
Tuesday night and matinees today
Wednesday and Saturday.
Marion M. Splawn Dies at Lyle.
GOLDENDALE, Wash.. Dec 31.
(Special.) Marlon M. Splawn, an old-
IE MILLER.
time resident of the Klickitat country,
who died at his residence in Lyle to
day following an illness of several
months, was born in the Willamette
Valley and came with his parents to
the High Prairie section about 40 years
ago. Mr. Splawn is a nephew of Jack
Splawn, ex-Mayor of North Yakima,
and spent most of his life as a farmer
on his ranch near Hartland. He had
resided in Lyle for several years, where
he had been a special Deputy Sheriff
and was formerly game warden of
Klickitat County. He is survived by
his widow and two sonA
CHINESE CELEBRATE, TOO
Stores to Close Today, Native Ob
servance Following January 23.
Although today is not the beginning
of the year on strictly Chinese calen
dars, it will be celebrated by the Port
land colony of Celestials in commemo
ration of the establishment of the Chi
nese republic. Every Chinese store in
the city will be closed, and the day
will be given over to feasting and
felicitations.
Chinese New Tear proper begins Jan
uary 22, when the week or more of
feasting and forgiveness of debts will
commence. In Portland It is always
celebrated with much pomp and a great
deal of banqueting, while the unique
melodies of the Chinese orchestras re
sound almost continuously through the
Oriental quarter. -
INSURANCE WILL' BE TOPIC
Members' Council of Chamber Will
Hold Session. Tomorrow.
The meeting of the members coun
cil of the Chamber of Commerce, regu
larly scheduled for Monday, will be
held tomorrow on account of the New
Year celebration today.
The report of the Insurance Code
Commission, which was authorized by
the 1915 Legislature and which will be
up to the coming Legislature, will be
the subject for discussion.
W. A. Williams, S. P. Lockwood, W.
J. Lyons and J. W. Simmons will speak
on the code from the standpoint of
fire, life, fraternal and survey and fi
delity Insurance. Mrs. Alva Lee
Stephens will speak on her bill to create
a bureau of Juvenile and parental rela
tions, which bill is to be put up also
before the coming legislative session.
RIGHT-OF-WAY GIVEN ROAD
Coos County Grants Privilege
to
Parallel Highway With Rails.
MARSHFIELD, Or., Dec 31. (Spe
cial.) The County Court assembled In
Coqullle last night granted the Smith-
Powers Logging Railway a franchise
for a ten-foot right of way on the
county road between Bunker Hill and
Summit, a distance of 11 miles.
The Smith Powers survey south of
Summit crosses the Coqullle River at
Beaver Slough and leads into Myrtle
Point, the present terminus of the rail
road between Powers and that city
from the south side of the Coqullle
Valley. The Bunker Hill terminus of
the proposed extension would bring the
railroad within one mile of Marshfield.
FUNERAL TO BE TUESDAY
Inquest Over Body of E. J. Richards
Not Yet Determined.
The funeral of EJ. J. Richards, of 691
Marshall street, pioneer grocer of this
city, will be held Tuesday at 1 P. M.
from the chapel of Flnley & Son. In
terment will be In Riverview Cemetery.
Mr. Richards was struck and -killed
by an S., P. & S. passenger train early
Saturday while out walking. None of
the train crew, nor anyone else that
has been discovered, witnessed the fatal
accident. The death was investigated
by Deputy Coroner Smith. It has not
yet been definitely determined whether
an Inquest will be held or not.
Edlefsen
Adv.
wishes happy New Tear.
CAUTION
Wrappers of the New Year's Edition of The Morn
ing Oregonian for sale on the streets and news
stands will bear this label:
NEW YEAR'S EDITION
Jlflrtlatti.
WATCH FOR
Al Shayne's Singing Is Delightful.
Bar Act, "Colonel of the Nuts,""
and Other Good Numbers
Are on New Bill.
One can readily realize when he sees
it. why "Peggy," the sketch which Clay
ton White and his -company presented
yesterday in the new bill at the Or
pheum. won the Lambs' Club silver
cup for the best sketch of the year
produced at the Lambs' Club Gambol.
The plot is built on a single thread
but it is a thread on which every
human heart happens to be strung: and
the Christmas atmosphere surrounding
the sketch makes it especially appeal
ing at this season, it is a modern and
wonderfully sweet re-echo of the spirit
of the old "Christmas Carol" of Dick
ens, over which the world has laughed
tenderly and cried with equal tender
ness for, lo, these many years.
Clayton White as "Dave," the stage
carpenter, with his laboriously written
Christmas letter from his little girl
Peggy, Is the very soul of Christmas
love and expansive geniality; and as
the sketch develops, the embittered the
atrical manager, the leading man in his
new pride of fatherhood, the Japanese
valet and the fine-souled stage car
penter are all drawn closely and more
closely together by the two big Im
pulses, the love of the little ones and
the glory of the Christmas spirit.
Andlence Is Charmed.
The audience almost finds Itself sit
ting inside the charmed circle and list
ening with tender pride to the final
reading of Peggy's Christmas letter.
Tragically beautiful is the descriptive
dance of Muriel Worth, "The Passing of
the Swan," with the poignantly thrill
ing music of Saint-Saens, and the
dancer expressing the very soul of the
stately creature growing more and
more magnificent in the beauty of its
death-
Muriel Worth does not adhere entire
ly to the classical nor the old world
themes In her dance presentations, but
offers some wonderful original dance
conceptions, and Introduces an inter
pretation of the "Spirit of Syncopa
tion "which gives a new glory and
piquancy to the appeal of our Ameri
can rag-time themes.
Shame's SlnBliiK Delights.
Al Shayne s singing act is a surpris
ing and wholly delightf pi comedy offer
ing, with enough seriousness to show
that besides being an uproarious come
dian, he has a voice entirely worth
listening to; and Mario and Duffy In
their horizontal bar production, which
closes the bill, show that there is still
something new to be seen, in this line
of entertainment.
Joe Morris is "the Colonel of the
nuts" in his "Avi-ate-her" skit, with
Flossie Campbell, his partner, she as
beautiful as he is comical; the board
walk patter of Ronalr, Ward and Far
ron is brilliant, and Ernie Potts and
company, who open the bill, start with
a singing feature and end with a
clever, surprise.
The travel weekly opening the show
covers interesting scenes in Indo-Chlna
and Algeria.
KANSAS ALUMNI MEETS
MRS. R. J. BROCK HOSTESS FOR
FOURTH ANNUAL GATHERING.
Mrs. E. C. Joss Elected Presldeat for
1917. E. C. Thayer Vice-President,
A. E. Liwita, Secretary.
The fourth annual meeting of the
Alumni of Kansas State Agricultural
College was held Saturday night at
the home of Mrs. R. J. Brock, at the
Campbell Hotel, with about 30 members
present. A business meeting with elec
tion of officers, a musical programme,
a social hour and refreshments, were
features of one of the most successful
meetings that the association has ever
neia in Portland.
W. W. Lawton. who was graduated
from the Agricultural College about
ten years ago and who has been promi
nent in the organization of the alumni
body in Portland, presided at the meet
ing. Mrs. B. C. Joss was elected presi
dent for 1917. E. C. Thayer was made
vice-president and A. E. Lawson sec
retary.
A meeting will be held in June at
some place to be decided on bv the
executive committee. The annual meet
ing will be held in December, 1917. The
following were present: Mr. and Mrs.
E. O. Joss. Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Smith,
Miss Muriel Smith, Mr. and Mrs. W. W.
Lawton. Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Stonn, Mr.
and Mrs. C. A. Haulenbeck, Mrs. and
Miss Waldele, Mr. and Mrs. II. A. Dar
nell, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Blair. Mr. and
Mrs. E. E. Faville, Miss Marie Williams,
Mrs. M. Bracons. W. A. Young. George
Moffat. James West, Ellis Thayer, Dr.
Frank E. Smith, C. H. Anderson. Allen
Tindolph and A. E. Lawson.
CIRCUIT COURT ACTION AIM
Effort Made to Take I. W. W. Cases
Out of Municipal Court.
An effort to bring the I. W. W. issue
before the Circuit Court, because of
dissatisfaction with the methods em
ployed in the Municipal Court in han
dling the emergency, was reported yes
terday, due to the activities of Attor
ney Harold M. Sawyer in attempting
to get a hearing In the higher court
for Frank Maedke. striking steel
worker, convicted in the Municipal
court or assault and fined sio.
Mr. Sawyer is said to represent em
ployers who are affected by the labor
situation. Action in the matter was
postponed by Judge Davis until next
Tuesday.
Read The Oregonian classified ads.
rrgnn
THE LABEL
THE STORE OF PERSONAL
r
income test begun
MILLIONS INVOLVED IN SOT
WILLIAM . CROCKER.
BY
Allowance fer Losses en Bonds and
Stacks Demanded Department Has
Made Adverse Rnllaar.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 31. William
H. Crocker, multimillionaire banker,
of this city, has sued Internal Revenue
Collector J. J. Scott for a refund of
(11.340, it became known here today.
The suit was filed in the United States
District Court here and was placed on
secret file by special order from
Washington, which, it is said, grants
to Crocker the privilege of avoiding
a publio recording to the documents in
the case.
In the suit Crocker demands that
Collector Scott return to him 111.340
which he alleges represents losses on
bonds and stocks sustained by him
which should have been considered in
the fixing of the amount of his tax
able Income.
It is said that if Crocker wins his
suit, it will mean that the Government
will have to refund millions of dol
lars to Income tax payers throughout
the country.
Under rulings from the Treasury
Department exemptions for losses may
be allowed only when sustained by a
person in the particular business by
which he or she earns a living.
Collector Scott, it is reported, held
that Crocker lost on certain securities
in which he dealt, and that, because
he did not Incur these losses in the
pursuit of the business by which he
earns his livelihood he had no right
to a refund.
EMPLOYES RECEIVE GIFTS
Purchasers of Cars Also Remem
bered by D. C. Warren Co.
The I. C. Warren Motorcar Com
pany. Twenty-third and Washington
streets, was among the business firms
of the city that did not forget to re
member. Its employes this holiday- sea
A Very Prosperous and
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Meier 2 Frank Company Takes This Oppor
tunity to Express Its Appreciation of Your Patron
age in the Past and to Assure You That the Same
Service That Has Made This Portland's Greatest
Store for Over 59 Years Will Be Constantly in
Evidence During
1917
Greatest Mail Order
House in the West
for
Trie- Quality" Storc or- Portland
rbc
son. In a letter of greetings to e?h
employe of the firm was pinned a $3
check, accompanied by the best wishes
of D. C. Warren, the president.
Each customer of the company who
has purchased an auto during the past
year was also generously remembered
with a useful windshield cleaner for
the car. Many were sent to distant
parts of the state and letters of ap
preciation are pouring In to the com
pany. SCHOONERS TO BE BUILT
Oregon Shipbuilding Company Ac
quires Site for Yards.
The Oregon Shipbuilding Company.
which has contracts to build three wood
en motor ships. Is planning to begin ac
tive construction work soon. The com
pany has acquired as a site for its
yards all of the land lying between
Vermont and, Nevada streets and ex
tending from the Willamette River to
the Southern Pacific tracks.
J. H. Price, who designed and super
vised the construction of the auxiliary
schooner City of Portland, the Ruby,
the June and other similar craft, is
one of the organizers of the company.
The concern is capitalized for 200.-
000, and was organized a few weeks
ago.
The three vessels to be built by the
company will be similar In type to the
City of Portland ana win nave a ca
pacity of 3000 tons each.
Grade Crossings to Be Studied.
SALEM, Or, Dec 31. (Special.)
Frank J. Miller, chairman of the State
Railroad Commission, has called for a
meeting of the conference on elimina
tion and protection of grade crossings
and for prevention of loss of life upon
railroad rights of way to meet in
Salem. Saturday January 6. at 10:30
o'clock In the morning.
CASTOR I A
For Infants and Children
In Use For Over 30 Years
Signature of
I
i
1
I
SERVICE
tfATER LEIEL
GRADE THRU
the CASCADES
NORTH BAS1K
ROAD en
2 FINE TRAINS
DAILY
BETWEEN SPOKANE AND
PORTLAND
Only All-Dayllirht Train
Throigb the Mosntilm
THROCGH SERVICES .
Portland to Spokane Chicago,
St. Louln. Kansas City.
Choice of
GREATEST SCENIC ROUTES
Northern Pacific Ry.,
Great Northern lly.
Barling-ton Honte
Through the Grand Canyon of
the' Columbia, along the rim of
the Snake River Canyon and
across the Inland Empire.
Portland to San Franrlseo
SS. Northern Pacific. 26-hour
sail, and connecting steamer
express train from Portland.
BOOK OF ARTISTIC VIEWS
Entitled "Along the Columbia
River to the Sea." Sent for 3
cents stamps. It will delight
Eastern friends.
R. II.
CHOZIER, A. G.
Portland. Or.
P. A
mm i ii mi IP!