VOL. LVIII NO. 18.436
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
Postoffice a. Second-Class Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1919.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
DEMOCRATS DELAK
TREATY DECISION
Lack of Leadership Held
Big Handicap.
!!;!BEIIISIOIIOFIIJlllllL
STANDIFER YARD WILL
BUILD THREE TANKERS
ADJUTANT-GENERAL
APPOINTED BY HART
MAJOR THOMPSON CHOSEN TO
SUCCEED GENERAL MOSS.
U. S. LEGION POSTS
WIDELY SCATTERED
HOLIDAY LIQUOR
PORTLAND GROPtS
If BLHG FOG
Traffic Brought Almost to
Standstill.
wnoriu-uunoi in ii
AWARDS ORDERED
BALTIMORE - TO - PORTLAND
RAILWAY RUMORED.
CONTRACT FOR 12,000 - TOX
STEAMERS IS WON HERE.
FRANCE. ENGLAND, CANADA,
CUBA, MEXICO REPRESENTED.
LODGE POSITION IS CLEAR
Middle-of-Road Republicans
Assured of Support.
COMPROMISE IS PREPARED
Draft Expected to Bring Democratic
Factious Together; Former
President Taft Aids.
OREGOXIAX NEWS BUREAU.
Washington. Dec. 26. Henry Cabot
Lodge, majority leader in the senate,
la a man of more than judicial tem
perament. He is one man in the world
who cares nothing about personal at
tacks upon himself, so long as they
do no harm to anyone else or injury
to a cause worth while.
Just now Senator Lodge smiles as
he reads how the mild reservationists
on the republican side of the senate
are threatening one day to displace
him as UaJMtj leader or to make j
lioai-o Willi kllc . i. l d ' - W UllllUl
consulting him; how notice has been
served on him that unless he does this
or that he will be Ignored entirely in
the peace treaty negotiations and set
tlement. Answer la Satisfactory.
And doubtless the mild reservation
ists are smiling, too. The fact is that
Senator Lodge is not standing in the
way of any compromise on the peace
treaty that is satisfactory to the middle-of-the-roaders
on the republican
side. The only notice "served" on
Mr. Lodge wa In the appeal made to
him by a committee of five mild res
ervation senators last Sunday, as told
exclusively in these dispatches. What
he said to them was final and satis
factory, because it will be recalled
that he told them to go ahead and
work out a plan for uniting the forces
in the senate favoring ratification,
and he stood ready to help them when
his assistance was needed.
Nothing more was left to be said.
Since that time the reaervation sen
ators have been conferring indus
triously on a plan of ratification ac
ceptable to the democrats. The re
publican leadership in the senate Is
not obstructing the negotiations,' but
the lack of leadership' on the demo
cratic side is admittedly a most
ferious handicap to an early settle
ment. As the country knows well by this
time, there is an acrimonious struggle
waging over the democratic leader
ship in the senate, with Gilbert M.
Hitchcock of Nebraska, and Oscar W.
Underwood of Alabama, as the op
posing candidates. On account of
this breach in the democratic forces,
the minority can agree upon nothing
to offer in the form of a compromise
on the reservations to the treaty,
and reservations there must and will
be.
Democratic Offer Awaited.
The compromise offer in the natural
course should come from the demo
cratic side because the republican
side Is satisfied with the reservations
laid before the senate in the last ses
sion in the Lodge resolution and re
jected. On account of the situation
which renders the democratic forces
helpless, as well as leaderless, the
mild reservation republicans have
stepped into the breach and are pre-
. norm , r, r r r, . . i. .1 .
1 .. ..i ' Liie senate re
convenes a compromise which each
democratic faction can support with
out yielding recognition to the other
faction. The mild reservation repub
licans are able to confer with both
democratic factions whose leaders
decline now to confer 'with each
other.
It therefore devolves on the mild
reservationists to work out a con
structive plan by which the treaty can
be ratified. To this end Senators
McNary of Oregon, and Lenroot of
Wisconsin, conferred at length this
morning and began the drafting of
their compromise reservations. Of
tne to so-called Lodge reservations.
only three are in controversy, the
democratic side being ready to ac
cept all as they stand now except the
preamble, which is reservation No. 1,
and the reservations to article 10 and
the Shantung provision.
Draft Near Completion.
Former President Taft has been
giving active aid to the reservation
ists in the form of dally suggestions,
which they acknowledge gratefully.
It is probable that the draft of these
three compromise reservations will be
completed by tomorrow and made
ready for submission to the opposing
democratic leaders. Senator McNary
was confident today that an early
agreement to assure ratification will
be reached. .
President Wilson's proclamation
turning the railroads back to the pri
vate owners on March 1. it develops,
was a complete surprise to the rail
road brotherhoods. Their expressions
of surprise reveal the fact that their
side has not been any better advised
of the president's intentions as to the
future of the railroads than have the
railway executives.
So sure were the brotherhoods that
the president would retain control of
the roads indefinitely that they, ac
companied by Samuel Gompers, presl-
(Concluded uu Page 2, Column 1.)
New York Sun Hints Oil King Ac
quires Control of Union
Pa-cific System.
OREGONI AN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington. Dec. 26. That the
Rockefeller interests have determined
on a coast-to-coast railroad with
Baltimore as the eastern terminus and
San Francisco. Portland and Seattle as
the Pacific coast termini, is asserted
by the Baltimore Sun today. The
project is said to include a linking
up of the West Maryland, Baltimore
to Toledo; the Pittsburg & Lake Erie
from Toledo to Chicago, the Illinois
Central from Chicago to Omaha and
the Union Pacific from Omaha to Sap
Francisco. The Oregon Short Line
and Oregon-Washington Railroad &
Navigation company would be used to
establish the connection with the
main line at Granger, Wyo., for Port
land and sSeattle.
The Sun points out that the direc
torate in all of these railroads is rfulte
similar to the Rockefellers on all
boards. That the Rockefeller inter
ests have acquired control of the
Union Pacific system, as has been ru
mored for some time, is stated indi
rectly by the Sun, which refers to the
recent election of Carl Gray to the
presidency of the Union Pacific as an
act on the part of the Rockefellers of
"transferring Gray to the larger
field."
The use of Baltimore as the eastern
termtnal is obviously to emphasize the
growing importance of that city, be
cause by the same reasoning such a
transcontinental road could as well
be connected with New York, the more
lmportant cIty
over lines controlled
Dy the Rockefeller interests. Further
more, the Sun seems to have over
looked tne fact that there Is another
railroad from Chicago to the North
Pacific coast which the Rockefellers
dominate to the exclusion of any
other financial interests, which is the
Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul, with
Its own line to the coast and a much
better line from Chicago to Omaha
than the Illinois Ventral.
HERO'S WORDS ON TABLET
John Paul Jones Tells What Naval
Officers Should Be.
WASHINGTON". Dec. 28. Secretary
Daniels, approving a resolution re
cently adopted by the District of Co
lumbia society of the Sons of the
American Revolution, today requested
the commission of fine arts of the
District of Columbia to place a tab
let at the base of the John Paul Jones
monument In Washington bearing the
following words of the revolutionary
war naval hero as made in a state
ment to the marine committee of con
gress in 1776:
"It is by no means enough that an
officer of the navy should be a capa
ble mariner. He must be that, of
course, butalso a great deal more. He
should be. as well, a gentleman of
liberal education. refined manner,
punctilious courtesy, and the nicest
sense of personal honor.
"He should not only be able to ex
press himself clearly and with force
In his own language, with tongue and
pen. but he should be versed In
French and Spanish.
"He should be the soul of tact, pa
tience and Justice."
AUTO UNION RAPS LEGION
Detroit Local Demands Men Quit
Service Body in 30 Days.
DETROIT, Mich.. Dec. 28. Members
of the Detroit local of the Automo
bile, Aircraft and Vehicle Workers of
America were forbidden to hold mem
bership in the AmericanLeglon by an
amendment to the bylaws of the vehi
cle workers' organisation adopted
several days ago. It was announced
tonight. The action was taken, ac
cording to I. Paul Taylor, secretary
of the union, because of the "uses
to which the legion has been put by
certain factions."
The amended bylaws order all mem
bers of the union who are affiliated
with the American Legion to resign
within 30 days, it was said. The rec
ommendation was also made that
those who desired to belong to a serv
ice organisation join the Private Sol
diers' and Sailors' Legion.
The amendment was adopted, it was
said, upon recommendation of the
board of administration, after it had
considered allegations that the Ameri
can Legion had been active in "break
ing" the strikes of the New 1 ork
longshoremen, the Boston policemen
and the Kansas miners.
WHISKY RUSHED TO DOCKS
Exporters Make Mighty Ef Tort to
Beat Dry-Time Limit.
PITTSBURG, Dec. 26. Five thou
sand barrels of whisky were being
loaded tonight in the hope that it
might reach the seaboard in time
to be shipped abroad before national
prohibition" becomes effective Janu
ary 16. Distillers said they had little
hope of getting more than one-tenth
of It away.
More than 10.000.000 gallons, it wai
said, are still in warehouses in this
vicinity.
"TIGER" NAMED FOR RACE
French Deputies Will Ask Clemcn
ceau to Run for President.
PARIS, Dec. 26. A numher of
members of the chamber of depu
ties Intend shortly to endeavor to
Induce Premier Cleroenceau to be
come a candidate for the presidency.
Ibis report was given out today.
Daniels Summons Board
to End Controversy.
THREE REFUSE WAR MEDALS
Atlantic Fleet Commander
Joins Sims in Protest.
UNFAIRNESS IS ASSERTED
Pilot of Transport Sucoesfully
Torpedoed by Germans Re
jects Decoration.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 26. Secretary
Daniels tonight ordered the navy de
partment's board of awards recon
vened Monday, January 5. to revise
the recent recommendations as to na
val awards, which have been the
source of a controversy brought to a
head a few days ago by declination
! of Admiral Sims to accept the distin
guished service medal while the
awards remained as at present.
"While approving In the main the
recommendations of the board of
awards," said Mr. Daniels in his order
to Rear-Admiral A. M. Knight to re
convene the board, "my examination
Into the subject has convinced me
that there are a number of cases re
quiring further examination. and
there have been additional recommen
dations since your board adjourned
which require examination by a-board
of officers."
Board Is Summoned.
The order to reconvene the board
was made public late tonight follow
ing receipt of reports from Newport.
R. I., that Vice-Admiral Hilary P.
Jones and Captain Raymond D. Has
brouck had followed Admiral Sims in
refusing to accept the medals be
stowed on them, disagreeing with the
policy determining the officers to be
rewarded for services during the war.
Secretary Daniels, it was said at the
navy department, however, iMtd -rajggi
ceived no information as to tne aec-
llnatlon of Captain Hasbrouck or the
reported declination of Admiral Jones.
The secretary's order to reconvene
the board addressed to Rear-Admiral
A. M. Knight, chairman, follows:
"While approving in the main the
recommendations of the board of
awards, my examination into the sub
ject has convinced me that there are
a number of cases requiring further
examination and there have been ad
ditional recommendations since your
board adjourned, which require ex
amination by a board of officers.
"Snore Awards Too Liberal."
"I felt in going over the list that
the board had been too liberal, par
ticularly as regarded officers whose
duty during the war was mainly or
altogether on shore. I felt that reports,
some of which had not come to your
board, particularly as to men who
had served and suffered In th war
tone, justified additlonal awards.
"No official approval of any list
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 3.)
COME
I ' I
Orders Will Keep Plant Busy for
Another Year, After Which Pay
Will Have to Come Down.
Contracts for three tank steamers
of 12,000 tons deadweight capacity
each have been accepted from the
Standard Oil company by the G. M.
Standifer Construction corporation.
end work on the vessels will start aa
soon as the present programme of the
yard is completed, it was announced
last night by Guy M. Standifer, pres
ident of the corporation, who returned
Christmas day from a sojourn of sev
eral months in the east.
Mr. Standifer estimate! that the
construction of the three oil tankers,
in addition to the five 9600-ton ships
to be built for the Green Star liner and
the three emergency fleet corporation
vessels still to be completed will keep
the steel shipbuilding plant at Van
couver busy for a year, with a force
of 3600 men.
"The outlook for steel shipbuilding
here aster next year is not at all en
couraging," said Mr. Standifer last
night. "Wages are higher here far
this work than anywhere else In the
world. We are paying more than the
yards in Washington. California or
the Atlantic coast, and twice as much
as they are paying in England.
"The only reason we can geL con
tracts now is that all the yards of the
country and England have all the
work they can handle. When they
have caught up with their work,
which will be about a year hence, we
will be up against world competition.
Then either production must increase
greatly or wages decrease If we are
to continue operations."
Mr. and Mrs. Standifer are staying
at the Benson hotel. Mr. Standifer
intends to leave Monday to be in Cal
ifornia for a week, after which he will
spend the remainder of the winter
here.
DE VALERA GREETS IRISH
Recognition by United States Pre
dicted for 1020 in Cable.
NEW YORK, Dec. 26. A prediction
that li20 may see the recognition of
the "republic of Ireland" by the Unit
ed States was- contained in a New
Year's message cabled to Arthur Grif
fith, "acting president," by Eamonn
de Vale; a, and made public tonight.
The message follows:
"Greetings to the persecuted people
of Ireland from the many millions of
v i -ana n ho lo'i liberty and ad
mire people everywhere who will not
be denltd liberty. Endure yet a liyie
v. hile. You will be sustained. The
year 1920 may see the republic of Ire
land officially recognised by the Unit
ed States, and then flna victory after
760 years. Work and pray, everyone,
colleagues and self are doing our
duty. We send our affectionate re
gards to every Irish citizen.
"De VALERA."
LIQUOR CURES RUINED
"Prohibition," Says Remaining Los
Angeles Proprietor.
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 26. Los An
geles formerly had a group of a dozen
or more institute for the cure of the
liquor habit: now it has one and that
one is running at a loss, according to
W. M. Brown, the manager.
"Prohibition has ruined us." said
Mr. Brown. "We had a good business
for 30 ears here, but since July I
we are losing all our trade."
ON THERE, CONGRESS, GIVE
Position to Be Held Until Perma
nent Successor Is Appoint
ed by Governor.
OLT-MFIA. Wash., Dee. 26. Gover
nor Hart today appointed Major Mau
rice Thompson acting adjutant-gen
pen-
eral. to succeed Brigadier-Gen
Harvey J. Moss, whose reslgnat
was requested by the governor early
this week.
Major Thompson, who held the post
of adjutant-general before he re
signed to enter active service, was
promoted by the governor to the
rank of brigadier-general. Moss was
reduced to the rank of major.
General Moss has refused to com
ply with the governor's request that
he resign, but has granted the demand
that he turn the state military prop
erty over to the assistant adjutant
general. Major Thompson will hold
the office until aermanent successor
is named.
The orders naming Major Maurice
Thompson as acting adjutant-general
and directing Major E. H. Keene, as
sistant adjutant, to turn the office
over to Major Thompson were tele
graphed to Seattle today by the gov
ernor. The governor's order, addressed to
Major Keene. follows:
"Publish order of this date appoint
ing and commissioning Maurice
Thompson as major in the adjutant
general's department, national guard
of Washington. Subsequently, this
date, publish orders relieving Harvey
J. Moss from detail as adjutant-general,
returning him to his former
grade and branch, and detailing Ma
jor Maurice Thompson of the adjutant-general's
department to act as
adjutant-general, succeeding Harvey
J. Moss. Let the latter order provide
that during his detail as the acting
adjutant-general, Maurice Thompson
shall have the rank of brigadier-general
and let this order also carry the
usual provision for transfer of funds.
records and properties. Acknowledge
receipt of this order and report com
pliance therewith by wire.
"LOUIS F. HART,
"Governor of Washington."
SPRUCE HEAD RELIEVED
Colonel Van Way Ordered to Suc
ceed Colonel Stearns.
OREGONI AN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington. Dec. 26. Colonel Charles
W. Van Way, now on duty
10th cavalry at Huachuca.
Ariz, has ;
been detailed for duty with the air
service aa president of the spruce pro
duction corporation at Portland, Or.,
relieving Colonel Cuthbert P. Stearns.
First Lieutenant Daniel- J. Crane
ton, now at Fort Funston. Kan., has
been ordered to temporary doty as
assistant recruiting officer at Port
land, Or.
ACCIDENT FATAL TO ACE
Conqueror of 4 5 German Planes
Is Victim of Auto Mishap.
TORONTO. Ont., Dec. tt. Major A.
E. McKeever. M. C. D. S. O.. one of
the best-known Canadian aces in the
great war and credited with the de
struction of 45 German machines, died
In the. general hospital today follow
ing an operation.
In an automobile accident near
Stratford, Qnt.. some time ago. he
suffered a broken leg a'nd internal
Injuries. He was 25 years old.
THE FANS THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.
IS FnTftl TO 38
Hartford, Conn., Bever
age Takes Big Toll.
-'WOOD ALCOHOL IS blamed
Five Are Under Arrest Pend
ing Investigation.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS ACT
Police Believe Other Residents of
Three Towns Are 111 and Re
ports Are Awaited.
SPRINGFIELD, Man. Der. 2S. At
midnleht the Chicopee police an
nounced that charges of nan-
slaughter had been brought against 1
Chnrle Parry and William Baker,
who have been held pending investi
gation. Kour deaths were reported here
late tonight, one of them believed to
be doe to alcoholic Intoxication. Five
other men In Mercy hospital are not ;
expected to live the night out.
CHICOPEE, Mass., Dec. 26. Thirty
eight deaths have resulted tonight
from the drinking of liquor bought
in Hartford. Conn., and drunk in this
city. Holyoke and Hartford. Yester
day, last night and today. 18 men
and one woman died in Chicopee, 10
men In Hartford, Ave in Holyoke and
four in Springfield.
A number of other men were in a
critical condition tonight at hospitals
in Holyoke and Springfield. Four
men were under arrest in Hartford
and three in Chicopee, pending the
result of autopsies.
Others Believed ill.
Police investigations in Hartford
Indicated that the liquor, which was
sent there from New York, contained
wood alcohol. Part of it was sold
At a bar in Hartford, part was
;th thelhoughi at that place by pwsbna who .
"S"" 5 ana part was senij
a iiuici in vnicopee Kails. State
and federal authorities in Massachu-
setts and Connecticut were aiding
the police of Chicopee. Hartford. Hoi-!
yoke and Springfield tonight in their-
efforts to determine
for the deaths.
responsibility
The police and physicians believe
there are many more ill aa a result
of drinking the liquor and have not
yet been reported, as the police de
clared considerable liquor was sold,
rmplomi Are Similar.
Although Medical Examiner Fletch
er would not state positively that the
deaths were due to wood alcohol, it
was stated at the hospitals that the
cases no doubt were due to this form
of alcohol. The victims were affected
similarly, most of them becoming
paralyzed.
As soon as it was evident that some
form of liquor was causing the deaths,
all saloons in the valley were ordered
to sell no more of It. The American
house in Chicopee Falls was closed
(Concluded on Page 2. Column 2.)
New York Leads With 77 7
Branches, While Oregon Is
Credited With Total of 72.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.. Dec. 26.
American Legion posts in the United
oiairs ana .
crjsr.
States and foreign countries now
was announced today
headquarters. France,
England and Canada each have one
post, Alaska has four. Hawaii five,
Cuba one. Panama one, Mexico one
and the Philippine islands one. Ten
states have more than 200 posts each.
New York leads with 777 posts;
Pennsylvania is second with 497, Min
nesota is third with 364 posts, and
Illinois fourth with 349 posts. Iowa
has 345, Ohio 298, Massachusetts 238.
New Jersey 224, Missouri 220 and
Indiana 203.
The posts chartered in other states
follow: Alabama 143, Arizona 23.
Arkansas 90, California 155. Colorado
62, Connecticut 77, Delaware 18, Dis
trict of Columbia 21, Florida 65, Idaho
80, Georgia 78, Kansas 187. Ken
tucky 6S, Louisiana 29, Maine 80,
Maryland 70, Michigan 198, Mississippi
54, Montana 52, Nebraska 139, Nevada
18. New Hampshire 69. New Mexico
36, North Carolina 58, North Dakota
111. Oklahoma-126. Oregon 72. Rhode
lslana Ju' Carolina 4i. South
DaKota ii3, Tennessee 61. Texas 110.
Utah 100. Vermont 76, Virginia 101."
Washington 95, West Virginia 66,
Wisconsin 163. and Wyoming 20.
TIDE SWEEPS TO ZION
Jewish' Emigrants Go to Palestine,
Relying on Britain.
NEW YORK. Dec. 26. A great tide
of emigration is sweeping Into Pal
estine, influenced by the conviction
that Great Britain will shortly accept
a mandate for the Holy Land and
that the dream of a national home
land for the Jews Is about to be real
ized, according to cable advices re
ceived by the Zionist' organization
of America today. The cable mes
sages state that the world conference
of Zionists, scheduled to be held at
Basle on January 18. has been post
poned In view of the "assured pos
sibility of Immediate negotiations for
the mandate over Palestine."
A London cable message received by
the Jewish Morning Journal stated
that peace negotiations with Turkey
would open shortly after the new
year and that the British delegates
wouin oe r-remier Ldoyd George. Lord
, ui ..in niiu nunui j. oaiiowr. an
, turion and Arthur J.
three of whom have publicly declared
! their sympathy
movement.
with the Zionist
RHINE IS AT HIGH STAGE
Melting Snow on I own Level of
Alps Threatens Flood.
GENEVA. Switzerland. Dec 26.
Melting snow from the lower Alps
has swollen the Rhine river to 12
feet above normal. threatening io
flood lower Basle and towns along
the German shore. Floating trees are
doing damage. Serious floods are re
ported from Alsace.
Heavy snows continue in eastern
Switzerland, a fresh fall of 20 Inches
being reported from Davos and St.
Moritz. Many trains are stalled.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
43 degrees: minimum, .15 degrees.
TODAY'S- Fair, winds mostly southerly.
Foreign.
Japan announces agreement with United
Slates on Siberian policy. Page 6.
National.
Treaty advocates pressing senate leaders.
Page
Lack of democratic leadership in senate Is
handicap to peace treaty agreement.
Page 1.
laoniestle.
Thirty-eight are killed by drinking holi
day liquor in Connecticut and Massa
chusetts. Page 1.
Widow of J. Stanley Brown Is detained
for murder Investigation. Page 2.
Wilson orders delivery of ex-German lin
ers to Great Britain. Page S.
Baker frees only convicted traitor In army.
Page 8.
Trail of crime left by Oregon convict held
at Marysvllle, Cal.. on murder charge.
Page 5.
American Legion posts widely scattered.
Page 1.
Railway machinists protest anti-strike
elause. Page 4.
Fight over t2.000.000 estate of ex-Senator
Fair Is settled. Page 3.
Rockefeller seeks coast-to-coast railroad.
Page 1.
Revision of naval war decorations ordered
by Daniels. Page 1.
Pacific Northwest.
WiUcsson case is put up to Palmer. Page 4.
New adjutant-general named in Washing
ton. Page 1.
Seattle offers factory to Palmollve Soap
company. Page 6.
Oregon appeals to railway director for
early relief of car shortage. Page 5.
Lake 1-abtsh rail project is alive. Page 7.
Sport.
Harvard football team arrives at Pasadena.
Page 12.
Brooklyn gives "Rowdy" RMiott another
chance in big leagues. Page 12.
No boxer now in Dempsey's class, Charley
nunc bikiii. rage 12.
Commercial and Marine.
Extreme prices maintained In raw fur !
market. page 17.
. " 10 oxpsciea in-
crease In receipts. Page 17
Public demand for railway stocks feature
of Wall-street market. Page 17.
Upper Columbia free or Ice. Page IX.
I'ortland and Vicinity.
Smallpox hospital arouses ire. Page 11
Portland gropes In blinding fog that al- '
most ties up traffic. Page 1.
Domestic relations court attacked in suit '
over child's custody. Page IS. 1
Judge Gatens finds public opinion such I
that (air trial for Sorenson is impoa- :
sible and change of venue will be '
granted if possible. Page 10.
Political motive In Increasing gasoline price
denied by Standard Oil man. Page lu.
Contracts for three 12.0O0-ton tankers for
Standard Oil are won by Standifer cor
poration. Page 1.
Al Kader to elect officers tonight. Page la
pr stssons denies proffer to bead Reed
college- rage u.
CITY IN FEAR OF WRECKS
Motorists and Street Car Men
Are Held Up.
LONDON NOW HAS RIVAL
Dense Blanket Drops Over City
and Even Street Lights Are
Obscured From Pedestrians.
London doesn't have anythtng on
Portland for fog. At least that Is
wjhat several hundred thousand Port
landers are ready to swear, with em
phasis on the swear, after the ex
perience they had groping their way
through the thick blanket which de
scended upon the city early last night.
The heavy shroud which visited
the city, especially the downtown sec
tion and those sections on low ground
along the river, set everyone to grop
ing through the darkness. Even the
street lights shone weirdly through
the curtain ana It was impossible to
distinguish them a short distance
away
Objects Are Shut Out.
The fog was declared by old-timers
to be one of the heaviest In years,
only the higher portions of the city
being free from it. In the downtown
section It was so thick that it was
difficult to distinguish objects across
the street.
Portland traffic suffered heaviest or
all. Street cars and automobiles were
compelled to feel their way through
the curtain of darkness and street car
schedules suffered severely.
Taxlcab drivers refused to accept
' passengers who wished to make long
I trips and had to content themselves
J with fares who were not going far
out of the business district. Not only
were they afraid of the dangers to be
encountered, but professed that they
could not make anything on a long
drive through the fog.
' "Nothing doing." one for-hire driver
was heard to tell a prospective patron,
"I couldn't make expense money
creeping out there with the machine.
Sooner st'ck I ere and go without
business."
Atatoa Are Delayed.
Business men returning home in
their automobiles last night discov
ered that It took a half hour, or even
more to go a distance of a few blocks.
The drivers were compelled to feci
their way along the streets all the
time in danger of collisions or of run
ning off the tracks over curbinge or
other obstructions. With a spotlight,
even, it was difficult to see the road
way ahead and be sure of keeping on
the road. Many automobile owners
put up their cars rather than trust
themselves in the machine in the fog.
Those returning home on the street
cars played in no better luck. The
cars were all behind schedule and In
cases .one could make almost as good
time walking.
Post la Good Alibi.
The Portlander, who in the past
was compelled to have recourse to
various excuses to explain his late
arrival home to his wife, had a good
alibi last night. Others who In times
past may have entered the wrong
door by mistake also could explain
such an accident without difficulty.
From Portland heights and other
high portions of the city It was re
ported that the lower ground ap
peared as a sea of clouds. Sections
of the city a good distance out on the
East side reported that the fog was
not so heavy there.
Many workers walking home in the
downtown district had to use caution
to prevent being struck by automo
biles aajd streetcars or to prevent col
lision with one another, even, owing
to the difficulty of seeing more than
a few feet away.
Weather Man Han Good Time.
To the ordinary observer it was
merely a fog. but to Edward L. Wells,
weather man at Portland, it was a
phenomenon. Nor Is the cause diffi
cult to determine, according to Mr.
Wells, who flirts nonchalantly with
formidable scientific words. The
weather man declared that in his
opinion it was a case where the
ground had become cold, causing con
densing of the moisture In the air.
Mr. Wells said that the city was like
ly to be visited with fogs at this sea
son unless there Is wind.
The forecast today is fair with tire
. po88iblllty of more fog unless there
i v,irt he. wind.
No serious accidents bad been re
ported to the police last night. Appar
ently drivers of vehicles and pedess
trlans were using the utmost cautiea
to prevent such accidents.
The Portland Railway, Light &
Power company reported that Its cars
were running only half speed in the
majority of the sections of the city,
although there were some places
where better time could be mailt.
"We are doing the best we can." the
dispatcher announced, "as we prefer
to run slow rather than have acci
dents." Portland was also visited by a
(.Concluded on Pace 2, Column 'L
r