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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1917)
- s m VOL. LVII NO. 17,5G3. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. BOOTLEGGER BARES WIRELESS UNITES MEXICO AND BERLIN SENATORS ADOPT ROLE FOR CLOTURE MAN HAS RABIES FROM COYOTE BITE 1 KILLED BATTLE;! HUONG WILSON TOLD HE HAS FULL POWER CITY'S FIRST HEED DIAGNOSED AS GRIT l ' 4 V' OF WAY OPENED TO VIOLATIONS OP NEUTRALITY. VICTIM IS BROUGHT, IN HAND CUFFS, FOB TREATMENT. ARMING OF SHIPS DOES STOT NEED HELP OF CONGRESS. WORKINGS RING WOUNDED i i i. H 1 Billingsley Tells How He Bribed Police. PROTECTION SYSTEM EXPOSED Witness Branded as Murderer by Defense Counsel. LIFE OF CRIME IS RECITED Copies of tetters Said to nave Been Destroyed by Gill Are Read. Mayor Is Not Yet Brought Into Testimony. SEATTLE, Wash., March 8. (Spe cial.) Heralded by Government Prose cutor Reames as "a man most of whose life had been occupied In bootlegging and gambling," and by opposing counsel as a murderer and habitual criminal, Logan Billingsley, principal witness for the United States Government In the case against Mayor Hiram C. Gill and others, went on the witness stand In the United States District Court today. For three hours he answered ques tions of the District Attorney concern ing his life and his operations as a I systematic violator of the prohibition law in the states of Oklahoma, West Virginia and Washington. Bootlegging Plans Erposed. The defendants, beside Mayor Gill, are Chief of Police Charles L. Beckingham. former Sheriff Robert T. Hodge, and City Detectives Peyser, Doom, Poolman and McLennan, indicted by a Federal grand Jury for alleged conspiracy to violate the criminal statutes of the United States and the interstate com merce law by importation of intoxi cating liquor Into the state of Wash ington. Billingsley was the storm center of frequent bickerings between opposing counsel. His testimony exposed the in ner workings of the bootlegging ring of which he was the acknowledged i head and specifically involved the four! detective defendants In his far-reaching system of bribery. Witness Seems Indifferent. He told of alleged agreements, bick erings and rearrangements with the four accused detectives for what he de clared to be the protection of his nu merous shipments of liquor from Cali fornia. Billingsley, 32, cool, half Indifferent, entered Federal Judge Neterer's court at 11:20 A. M., passed an array of bit terly hostile defense attorneys and took the witness stand. He gave a sketchy picture of his early life as a violator of the liquor and gambling laws in Oklahoma and West Virginia. He said he was still wanted in Oklahoma City to answer the charge of maintaining a "crap" game and selling liquor. He told of his trial for murder there, and of his acquittal on a second trial, and then he related coming to Seattle and planning deliberately his long series of disregard for the dry law of this state. He related paying various sums to the indicted policemen, and affirmed a final agreement was reached whereby he paid $10 a barrel for "his water front protection." Money Passed In Paper. "That is," he explained, without a tremor, "I paid $10 a barrel for what these policemen saw. What they didn't tee I didn't pay for." Detailing one alleged bribe of $100 to Detective Peyser, the witness said: "I arranged to meet Peyser in a hall of the Fischer building, which was near my Night and Day drug store. I had $90 in silver and one $10 gold piece. I put it in a paper sack and handed It out to liim just as if It had been a bag of candy." The so-called protection money, avefred Billingsley, was "split four ways." . '" - Correspondence Is Introduced. At the adjournment of court tonight Billingsley had not reached that part of his testimony by which the Govern ment hopes to involve the Mayor, the chief of police, and the ex-Sheriff. This testimony probably will be reached come time tomorrow. This afternoon was taken up with the introduction by Special Prosecutor Reams of volumin ous correspondence between Billingsley and the Jesse Moore Hunt Company, of San Francisco. The correspondence showed that Billingsley had been a heavy and most welcome customer of the San Francisco liquor house. On one occasion when Fred Adams as Billingsley called him self in most of the letters and tele prams had objected in vigorous lan guage, to the shape in which a certain shipment had arrived, the company, in Its reply, had expressed sincere regret and had assured Billingsley It would "fire every man In the house until we fret the shipments In such shape, they will please you." Arrangement With Gill Is Told. Billingsley Identified the copies of the letters and telegrams and said the originals seized by the police In a raid on his drugstore had been destroyed by. him after they had' been returned to him by Mayor Gill last August when he had made the arrangement with Gill by which the prosecution of him by the city officials was to be dropped. The Government offered the copies to chow not only the enormous quantities of liquor shipped to Billingsley but also that Gill turned back to Billingsley Concluded oa Fag 3. Column I Germans In Monterey and Vera Cruz Sold Secret Meetings to Discuss Eventuality of War. WASHINGTON, March 8. Informa tion has reached the Government from a semi-official source that through the perfection of a powerful wireless tele graph plant In Mexico City direct com munication hetween the Mexican capital and Germany has been established. . Officials realize that If confirmed this news Is of great Importance and an investigation has been ordered. Through connection by Mexico City with the land telegraphs leading Into the United States Germany will be able to secure complete exemption from the censorship now Imposed by the Ameri can Government and by the British and French governments in their control of the cables. Far-reaching possibili ties thus would be opened for the vio lation of American neutrality or even the menacing of the National safety. Sea raiders and submarines might be directed and full information concern ing the departure of ships from Ameri can ports furnished. From other semi-official sources In formation has reached Washington that secret meetings are being held by Ger mans in Vera Cruz and In Monterey to determine on uniform action by Ger mans in Mexico in the event of an out break of war between the United States and Germany. NOTED AUSTRALIAN DEAD John Gavan Duffy Widely Known ' Barrister and Publicist. MELBOURNE, via London. March 8. John Gavan Duffy, widely known barrister and publicist, is dead.' John Gavan Duffy was long promi nent in Autralian public affairs. He was a member of several ministries, variously as Postmaster-General, Attorney-General and Minister without portfolio. In 1897 he was the repre sentative of the colonies at the Uni versal Postal Union Congress in Wash ington. He was born in Dublin in 1844. PLOT TRIAL IS DELAYED Juror's Illness Halts Bearing; of , London Poison Suspects. LONDON, March 8. The illness of a Juror has retarded the progress of the case against Mrs. Alice Wheeldon, her two daughters, Miss Ann Wheeldon and Mrs. Alfred Mason, and Mrs. Mason's husband, who are on trial before Jus tice Low in the Old Bailey, charged with conspiracy to murder Premier Lloyd George . and Arthur Henderson, member of the war council. Owing to the necessity of swearing in a new Jury the entire evidence that was introduced by the prosecution had to be repeated. LARSEN CARGO TO BE SOLD Government Has Claim Against Mu nitions Intended for Mexico. TACOMA. Wash., March 8. (Special.) An order for the condemnation and sale of 3774 cases .' arms and ammu nition seized by the Government on the schooner Annie Larsen, when she put into Grays Harbor, was made by Federal Judge Cushman here today. The munitions, it. was said; were In tended for the -ise of Mexican revolu tionists. The Government has a claim of $1175 against the cargo, which is separate from that held by Olson & Mahoney, owners of the Larsen. ASTORIA EDITOR INDICTED J. S. Bellinger Accused of Libel In Mayor Harley's Campaign. ASTORIA. Or.. March 8. (Special.) The Circuit Court grand Jury returned three indictments this morning. One of them was against J. S. Delllnger publisher of the Astorian, charging him with political criminal libel. He is charged with publishing a letter signed by G. W. Moyer and bitterly attacking E. C. Harley during the recent May oralty campaign. The other Indictments were not made public, as the defendants have not been arrested. JAIL IS COUNCILMAN'S LOT Jack Albright, AVith Leslie Wells, of Oregon City, Declared Drunk. OREGON CITY, Or., March 8. (Spe cial.) Councilman Jack Albright, ac companied by Leslie Wells, spent last night in Jail. The pair were arrested on Main street by Chief of Police Blanchard. and Patrolman French, who said they were Intoxicated. Councilman Albright recently was arrested for driving his automobile up on the sidewalk while under the influ ence of liquor. U-BOAT VICTIMS HONORED Memorial Services Held In London for Mrs. Hoy and Daughter. LONDON. March 8. A memorial service for Mrs. Mary Hoy and her daughter. Miss Elizabeth Hoy, of Chi cago, who lost their lives by the sink ing of the British steamship Laconla by a German submarine, was held this afternoon in St. Martin's Church, Tra falgar Square Two-thirds Can Put End to Filibuster. FINAL VOTE IS 76 TO 3 La FoIIette, Gronna, Sherman Oppose Amendment. ISSUE IS WIDELY DEBATED Bitter Criticism of President Voiced. Cummins Says Any Man, "High or Low," Accusing Him Is Falsifier. WASHINGTON, March 8. After more than 100 years under rules permitting debate limited only by the physical en durance of Senators and the provisions of the Constitution, the Senate tonight, by a vote of 76 to 3, put power in the hands of two-thirds of its members in the future to limit discussion and to say when a vote shall bo taken on a pending measure. The organized filibuster as recog nized in the Senate is dead. Action Cornea Unexpectedly. Action came unexpectedly after six hours' debate on the new rule drafted by a bipartisan committee. Although both Democrats and Republicans had approved the change In caucus and Sen ator Martin, the majority floor leader, had given notice that the Senate would be kept in continuous session until a vote was taken, nearly every one looked for a much longer discussion. Senators La Follette and Gronna, two of those who opposed the armed neu trality bill, and Senator Sherman, who favored it, cast the negative votes. Senators Cummins, Kenyon, Kirby. Lane. Norrls. Stone and Vardaman, who were against the armed neutrality bill, voted for the amendment. Colleagues of .most of the Senators absent an nounced that if they had been- present they would have supported it. Organised Filibuster Dead. The exact use of the rule will not become apparent until it is enforced, but It probably cannot be successfully used to prevent the spectacular one- man filibusters by which Senators have talked bills pending in the closing hours of a session to a legislative grave. Such filibusters probably can not be prevented unless they are fore seen, but an organized affair which must be planned two days or more ahead of a session's end can be dis posed of easily. In brief, the new rule provides that on petition of 16 Senators to close de bate on a pending measure the Senate by a two-thirds vote on the following day but one may limit debate there after to one hour to each Senator. It includes provisions to prevent dilatory tactics and forbids the Introduction Concluded on Page 6, Column 1.) Dread Malady Is Contracted While Saving Valuable Dog From Mad Animal at Madras. Frank Powers of Hay Creek, Or., was brought to Portland yesterday In a critical condition from hydrophobia as the result of a bite from a mad coyote 11 days ago. Dr. David N. Roberg secretary of the State Board of Health. said last night that the man stood a good chance of recovery. Mr. Powers, who is 50 years old, and an employe of the Baldwin Sheep Com pany, of Madras. Or., was bitten on the hand while rescuing a valuable dog which had been attacked by a coyote. Mr. Powers continued his work until three days ago. when he showed defi nite symptoms of rabies. He was taken to Madras Wednesday night and a phy sician administered an opiate. He later became so violent that it was necessary to handcuff him. Physicians almost despaired of sav ing Mr. Powers' life when he arrived here yesterday. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital in a delirious condi tion, and a large dose of Pasteur serum Injected into him. Two more Injections were administered later in the day. STONE NOT TO BE REDUCED Filibustering Senator to Continue as Committee Chairman. WASHINGTON. March 8. In view of reports that Senator Stone, because of his attitude on the armed neutrality Issue, might not be retained as chair man of the foreign relations commit tee, the Senator said tonight: "I am not going to resign as chair man of the foreign relations commit tee and I am going to be retained in that chair in spite of the Senate reor ganization." Democratic leaders on the steering committee, which has the personnel of committees under consideration, also declared that there was no disposition to make any change. LIQUOR ON SHIP IS SEIZED 100 Quarts Taken From Breakwater on Arrival From California. One hundred quarts of liquor were seized in a raid on the steamer Break water by deputy Sheriffs last night shortly after its arrival from. Cali fornia. Four men were arrested on charges of buying liquor from, someone on the steamer. The men arrested are Joe Bov, who is said to have purchased four quarts; Carl Mathlson, six quarts; Joe Smith, six quarts, and Andrew Johnson, six quarts. MARINES LANDED IN CUBA Men From American Warships Take Charge in Santiago. SANTIAGO, Cuba. March 8. Four hundred men from American warships have landed and taken charge in Santi ago. The canefields and the Union Sugar Mill at San Luis, 10 miles north of Santiago, are burning. The people of San Luis are greatly alarmed and have built barricades In the streets, expecting an attack from the rebels. putting the jack in the box. Murder Is Committed Near Police Station. 3 GUNMEN RIDDLE GAMBLERS Shooting Takes Place When Assassins Raid Resort. PROPRIETOR IS ARRESTED Dead Man Formerly Member of Hop Sing; Slayer Thought Bow Lcong-Bing Kung; Wounded Victim Found In . Bed. One Chinaman, formerly a Hop Sing tongman, was killed and another wounded last night In a battle said by Chinese to have resulted from a daring tong raid on a gambling game at 86 Second street- From six to 20 shots are said to have been fired In the fight, which took place in a small room at the end of a long, winding passage, the turns of which effectually drowned the sound of the shooting. The police at head quarters. Just across the street, knew nothing of the affair until Wong Seu, an aged Chinese, ran into the police station and announced that the fight was in progress. Dead Man Cannery Worker. The dead man had nothing on his person to identify him, but Chinese said he was Fong Hong, 60, a cannery worker. The wounded man, who was shot through the leg above the ankle, gave his name at St. Vincent's Hospi tal as Leong Quong. He refused to tell his residence or occupation, but Chi nese say he Is a Bow Leong gunman. Louie Fong, alias Yum Wa, proprie tor of the garmbllng game at which the shooting was done, was arrested by Detective Swennes and Patrolman Niles, and is held for investigation. The Chinese had a sack of money said, to have been used in the game, and was counting It when arrested, and the po lice aro trying to establish evidence connecting him with the actual mur der. Louie Fong told Deputy District At torney Ryan and Detectives Goltz, Leon ard. La Salle and Captain Baty a dra matic story of the murder, which the police were unable to shake by cross examination. The narrative was in pantomime "pidgin" English, with oc casional asslstar.ee from an interpreter. Shooting; la Dramatic. "There were six of us playing," Louie Kong said. In substance. "I was be hind the table dealing fan tan. Sud denly the door leading to the street opened and three men rushed in. Shots rang out. I fled to the kitchen. I know nothing more about It." The prisoner described with precision the relative positions occupied by thee dead man and himself at the gaming (Concluded on Pass 4, Column 2.) Lansing and Gregory Agree on Law and Decision on Policy May Be Announced Today. WASHINGTON. March 8. Both Sec retary Lansing and Attorney-General Gregory have advised President Wilson he has full authority to arm merchant ships against illegal attacks by German submarines. Whether the President will act im mediately in accordance with this opin ion or will wait to call a special ses sion of -Congress io pass a. resolution similar to that killed by a filibuster at the last session was not revealed to night. In view of the Senate's action today In revising Its rules to prevent another such filibuster, it was thought in some Administration quarters the President would call an extra session immedi ately. One problem Involved in considera tion of the subject is the probable diffi culty over the organization of the next House, because of the almost evenly distributed balance of power between the Democrats and Republicans. On every hand, however, the predic tion was made that the decision of the President, either to call an extra ses sion immediately or to arm American merchantmen on his own authority, would be announced before the end of the present week, possibly tomor row. TRAINING CAMPS CONTINUE Failure of Appropriation Bill Not to Affect Institutions. CHICAGO. March 8. Military train ing camp projects are In no way af- fected by the failure of Congress to pass the appropriation bills, according to Wharton Clay, executive secretary of the Military Defense Association. "The military training camps are as much a part of the regular Army as any other branch of the service," Mr. Clay said. "As Army contracts are made for a long time ahead the" mili tary training camps will not be affected by failure of the bill." Potatoes Drop at Chebalis. CHEHALIS. Wash., March 8. (Spe cial.) " Potatoes have taken another slump in the Chehalis, market, dealers now paying about a ton. Owners are not selling at this price, however. A survey of the local potato situation shows that there is an available sup ply in Lewis County to meet local re quirements until the new crop comes on, with little or no surplus. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 42 degrees; minimum, 87 degrees. TODAY'S Occasional rain, winds becoming norm wesxeny. SabmarlnM. American engineer has plan to build ships faster than U-boats can destroy them. Page 2. Mexico and Germany united by powerful wlrelesa Page 1. President advised he has full power to arm shipa Page 1. National. Turkey again tries to abrogate treaty with America. Page 6. Oregon land grant case argued before Su preme Court. Page 2. Senators adopt rule for cloture. Page 1. Domestic. Hill lines said to have completed plans to enter san Francisco by way of Eureka. Page 8. Sports. West again wins over East on tennis courta Page 14. Frankie Sanders says Kllbane would make Welsh extend himself. Page 14. McCredie refuses to trade Southworth for Klllefer. Page 14. Ayau appears to be class of Chinese team. Page 14. Vancouver, B. C, Towers to play Multnomah Club hockey team for Northwest ama teur title tonight. Page 15. Detroit fans blame Hughle Jennings for failure to develop winning pitchers. Page 14. Pacifie Northwest. Billingsley bares workings of Seattle boot legging ring. Page 1. Legislature believed to have deprived Spo kane of farm bank. Page 7. Chehalls mass meeting demands Senator Jonea' resignation for filibuster. Page 7. Extra jurors in I. W. W. case are chosen. Page 6. Ballot titles for school bills filed. Page 6. Hood River residents form association to aid road bonding act. Page 7. Commercial and Marine. Oregon farm stocks of wheat leas than year ago. Page 19. Chicago wheat higher on Baltimore clear ances and crop report. Page 10. Stock dealings are professional and prices Irregular. Page 19. Portland and Vicinity. Booze trial' of firemen marked by peppery argument. Page 4. Children's health dangers depicted before Social Workers' Club. Page 9. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 19. Syrians In court demand hair for hair over women's row. Page 11. Colored masher to be deported to Canada. Page 9. Forest Grove bank cashier still missing. Page 14. Five arrested en land fraud charges under secret Indictments issued in 1815. Page 5. (200.000 Tyler alienation suit is settled. Page 8. Jltneurs to seek unrestricted privileges at city election. Page 8. Portland Investors have bought $3.000. 000 ot allies' war bonds. Page 15. German pastors praise Senator Lane. Page 18. Man geta rabies from coyote bite. Page i. Proposed test for postmaaters sets political bee buzzing. Page 8. Italian who died in plunge over cliff leaves suicide note. Page 2. Portland seems likely to get branch of Fed eral Reserve Bank. Page 15. One killed In tong battle; one wounded. Page 1. Colonel McAlexanders preparedness talk stirs business men. - Page If. Channel dredging problems studied. Page 18. Portland s greateat need diagnosed as grit. Page 1. Princess Pat" at Keilig is tuneful and fuuny. Pas 4. Railroads Arraigned for Unkept Promise. CARGOES URGED FOR SKIPS Business Men Criticised for, Favoring Puget Sound. CO-OPERATION IS ASKED H. W. Mitchell Recalls Harriman's Guaranty That Portland Would Be Great Center When Deep Waterway Is Assured. Portland needs more municipal grit, sand, backbone, nerve, self-confidence and community co-operation. This lamentable fact was freely ad mitted at a well-attended dinner of the Portland Traffic and Transportation Association at the Multnomah Hotel last night. Some of the leading bankers, manu facturers, wholesalers and merchants were there. All" seemed to agree that Portland lacks belief In Its own future, but few of the speakers seemed to agree on the remedy. It was admitted all around, though. that two things that Portland needs. above all others, are trans-oceanio steamship service and transcontinental railroad co-operation. Railroad Promise Net Kept. In the first place. II. W. Mitchell, president of the association, dealt very frankly with the railroad situation. He didn't handle the railroads very kindly, either. He recalled that In 'the year 1905 a group of prominent Harriman of ficials, including the late E. II. Harrl man himself, entertained a party of Portland business men at -dinner. Then, he went on to say, Mr. Harrl man and the others promised,, to make Portland "the greatest distributing cen ter in the Northwest," if a 30-foot chan nel were provided to the sea. Now the required channel has been dug and 40 feet of depth has been ac quired at the mouth, yet the Harriman lines have not turned a hand toward, building 'up Portland's overseas trade, asserted Mr. Mitchell. Shippers Urged to Co-operate. He urged the shippers to work to gether to get better co-operation from the railroads. And he didn't confine his criticisms to the Harriman system, either. He said that so long as the North Bank road continues to be owned Jointly by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific that line is going to' be of little benefit to Portland. One of the inspiring and instructive addresses of the evening was that of V. D. B. Dodson. executive secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, who as serted that some of the principal dif ficulties lie with the people of Port land themselves. Own Port Neglected. He pointed out that Portland ship pers. In the past, have refused to pa tronize the steamship lines operating' out of this city, that they have pre ferred to do their business through San Francisco and Puget Sound. It is Im possible to build up any trade here like that, he declared. One of the great needs of the town is in-bound cargo from the Orient copra, sugar, crude ores, hardwood and other raw products that can be used here in man ufacturing processes. "Maybe we must go to the railroads and insist on having our share of the business," he continued, significantly, "but we can't expect to do much In that line until we can get together and of fer the steamships enough cargo so that it will pay them to come here." Grain Elevators Urged. R. D. Inman, president of the Port of Portland, spoke on the work being done by that institution to develop the port, and discussed particularly the proposal to establish coal bunkers In the Columbia River to attract steam ships. C. B. Moores spoke for the Public Docks Commission, of which he is a. member. He urged adoption of the bond Issue for the erection of bulk grain elevators. H. L. Corbett emphasized Portland's need of manufacturing Industries. E. B. MacNaughton spoke from the standpoint of the younger men. J. N. Teal discussed, briefly, the Importance of maintaining equitable railroad rates, and C. W. Hodson spoke on the necessity of protecting home In dustries. Dora J. Zan entertained the gather ing with a number of vocal selections. He opened the exercises with "The Star-Spangled Banner," the audience Joining in the chorus. WILSON REMAINS IN BED President Still Has Fever, but Is Somewhat Improved. WASHINGTON. March 8. President Wilson, who has been confined to bed with a cold since yesterday morning, was somewhat Improved today. He saw no "callers during the day and it was Indicated he would remain in bed tomorrow. Dr. Cary T. Grayson said tonight the President had spent a comfortable day. although he still had fever. t t i . i ? IV--' 't IK